The Spectrum of Snakebite Injuries From Wound Infection to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency recognized as category A neglected disease in tropical areas of Pakistan. Objective of this study was to determine the minor injury to major damage in snake envenomed patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Emergency, Medical, Surgical, and Intensive Care Units of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from Jan 2022 to Sep 2024. The non-probability convenient sampling technique was applied for data collection. The snake envenomed patients aged 16–60 year were included. The data was analysed on SPSS-21 for characteristics of snakebites and complications, and p<0.05 was taken as significant. Results: A total of 52 patients were seen, 23 (44%) belonged to District Batagram with the mean age of 35.6±15.4 Years. Skin oedema was observed in 30 (58%), skin ulceration in 6 (11%), while 16 (31%) had normal skin appearance. Five (10%) patients had paresthesias, 3 (6%) had nerve palsies. Nine (18%) patients had ARDS complicated by septic shock and needed ventilator support. Fasciotomy was done in 8 (15%) patients and DIC alone was found in 6 (12%) patients. All patients complicated by ARDS and multiple organ failure died during admission with mortality of 12%. Conclusion: Systemic complications and end-organ damage secondary to snakebites is not rare. ARDS is most deadly complication of snakebites. The mortality of snakebites is double as compared to previously reported. Pak J Physiol 2025;21(2):48-51, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i2.1777