Risk Factors for Poor Outcome for Child Following Snake Envenomation in India

Patient selection: child with snakebite, age <= 12 years

Outcome: death or severe disability

Snakes usually involved:

(1) Naja naja (Indian cobra)

(2) Bungarus caerulus (common krait)

(3) Vipera russeli (Russel viper)

(4) Echis carinatus (saw scaled viper)

Independent predictors of poor outcome:

(1) younger age (age <= 6 years)

(2) distance walked after bite > 1 kilometer (indirect measure of time since bite)

(3) hemoglobin on admission <= 10 g/dL

Other factors identified on univariate analysis:

(1) vomiting

(2) cobra bite