Table 1. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics (intention-to-treat population).
| Characteristic | EchiTAb Plus-ICP | EchiTAb G |
| (n = 194) | (n = 206) | |
| Age (yrs) - mean (SD) | 25.4 (12.0) | 25.7 (13.1) |
| [range] | [6–60] | [7–60] |
| aged <14 yrs | 29 (14.9%) | 39 (18.9%) |
| Male | 138 (71.1%) | 137 (66.5%) |
| Weight (Kg) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 52.1 (14.0) | 52.3 (15.4) |
| Median (range) | 54.0 (14.0–86.7) | 55.0 (19.0–92.5) |
| Missing | 0 | 2 (1.0%) |
| Height (m) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 1.59 (0.16) | 1.57 (0.16) |
| Median (range) | 1.60 (1.09–1.90) | 1.60 (1.08–1.88) |
| Missing | 0 | 1 (0.5%) |
| Dead Echis ocellatus brought | 83 (42.8%) | 77 (37.4%) |
| Missing | 111 (57.2%) | 129 (62.6%) |
| Occupation | ||
| farmers | 49 (25.3%) | 69 (33.5%) |
| cattle rearers | 26 (13.4%) | 27 (13.1%) |
| other | 119 (61.1%) | 110 (53.4%) |
| Circumstance of bite | ||
| working | 27 (14.3%) | 29 (14.2%) |
| walking | 64 (33.9%) | 84 (41.2%) |
| other | 98 (51.9%) | 91 (44.6%) |
| Missing | 5 (2.6%) | 2 (1.0%) |
| Time from bite to admission (hours)Median | 8.7 | 9.3 |
| (IQR) | (4.3–17.5) | (4.7–16.6) |
| (entire range) | (0.20–70.32) | (0.10–72.00) |
| Site of bite | ||
| lower limb | 143 (73.7%) | 155 (75.2%) |
| upper limb | 49 (25.3%) | 48 (23.3%) |
| other | 2 (1.0%) | 3 (1.5%) |
| Local presenting features | ||
| any swelling | 193 (99.5%) | 206 (100.0%) |
| severe swelling * | 113 (58.2%) | 130 (63.1%) |
| blistering | 11 (5.7%) | 11 (5.3%) |
| local bleeding | 126 (64.9%) | 139 (67.5%) |
| painful regional lymph nodes | 124 (63.9%) | 148 (71.8%) |
| bruising | 2 (1.0%) | 2 (1.0%) |
| Systemic presenting features | ||
| vomiting | 63 (32.5%) | 66 (32.0%) |
| bleeding gums | 41 (21.1%) | 49 (23.8%) |
| epistaxis | 9 (4.6%) | 5 (2.4%) |
| haematuria | 7 (3.6%) | 12 (5.8%) |
| haematemesis | 7 (3.6%) | 10 (4.9%) |
| haemoptysis | 4 (2.1%) | 0 |
| melaena | 3 (1.6%) | 3 (1.5%) |
| Spontaneous systemic bleeding | 71 (36.6%) | 79 (38.3%) |
| shock/low BP (systolic <90 mmHg) | 10 (5.2%) | 16 (7.8%) |
SD – standard deviation.
IQR- interquartile range (25th - 75th percentile).
*Severe swelling = swelling affecting more than half of the limb.
All patients complained of pain; none was in shock or had an un-recordable blood pressure.