Challenges in diagnosing and treating snakebites in a rural population of Tamil Nadu, India: the views of clinicians

Williams, H. F., Vaiyapuri, R., Gajjeraman, P., Hutchinson, G., Gibbins, J. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0372-5352, Bicknell, A. B. and Vaiyapuri, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6006-6517 (2017) Challenges in diagnosing and treating snakebites in a rural population of Tamil Nadu, India: the views of clinicians. Toxicon, 130. pp. 44-46. ISSN 0041-0101 doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.02.025

Abstract/Summary

Snakebites cause death, disability and economic devastation to their victims, people who live almost exclusively in rural areas. Annually an estimated two million venomous bites cause as many as 100,000 deaths worldwide as well as hundreds of thousands of deformities and amputations. Recent studies suggest that India has the highest incidence of snakebite and associated deaths worldwide. In this study, we interviewed 25 hospital-based clinicians who regularly treat snakebites in Tamil Nadu, India, in order to gauge their opinions and views on the diagnostic tools and treatment methods available at that time, the difficulties encountered in treating snakebites and improvements to snakebite management protocols they deem necessary. Clinicians identified the improvement of community education, training of medical personnel, development of standard treatment protocols and improved medication as priorities for the immediate future.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-pure-test.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/69495
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.02.025
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Central Services Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Biomedical Sciences Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy
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