Table 2.
Socio-demographic factors, circumstances of envenomation and prehospital intervention [SEM = standard error of mean, # = unequal time frame signify the period indicating risk time segment of the day].
| Features of envenomed snakebite cases | Number (%) |
|---|---|
| A. Socio-demographic features | |
| Age (years) of all patients [range = 2–75, median = 36, mean±SEM = 34.49±2.67] | |
| 1–17 (children) [range = 2–17, median = 15, mean±SEM = 12.88±1.83] | 8 (24) |
| 18–40 (adults) [range = 20–37, median = 29, mean±SEM = 29.12±1.62] | 16 (47) |
| 41–65 (elders) [range = 42–75, median = 50, mean±SEM = 51.73±2.24] | 15 (44) |
| Gender [sex (male and female) ratio = 1.2] | |
| Male | 21 (54) |
| Female | 18 (46) |
| Education | |
| Illiterate (unable to read and write their own name) | 20 (51) |
| Literate (able to read and write their own name) | 19 (49) |
| Occupation | |
| Farmer | 24 (62) |
| Student | 7 (18) |
| Housewife | 3 (8) |
| Security personnel | 1 (3) |
| Businessman | 1 (3) |
| Social worker | 1 (3) |
| Mason | 1 (3) |
| Clerk | 1 (3) |
| Unknown | 1 (3) |
| B. Circumstances of snakebites | |
| Time# | |
| Early morning (03:00–04:59) | 9 (23) |
| Morning (05:00–09:59) | 3 (8) |
| Day (10:00–16:59) | 3 (8) |
| Evening (17:00–19:59) | 4 (10) |
| Night (20:00–02:59) | 20 (51) |
| Months | |
| June | 10 (26) |
| August | 10 (26) |
| September | 8 (21) |
| July | 7 (18) |
| April | 2 (5) |
| May | 2 (5) |
| Bitten body parts | |
| Leg (2 patients received bite below ankle on toes and foot) | 8 (21) |
| Hand (4 patients received bite below wrist on palm and fingers) | 5 (13) |
| Head | 2 (5) |
| Head and hand | 1 (3) |
| Trunk | 1 (3) |
| Unidentified | 8 (21) |
| Not available | 8 (21) |
| Locations where bite occurred | |
| Indoor | 15 (38) |
| Premises of house (roof, yard, the outskirts of house, e.g., verandah, outer corridor, etc.) | 12 (31) |
| Crop field | 5 (13) |
| Forest | 1 (3) |
| Not available | 6 (15) |
| Districts | |
| Nawalparasi | 24 (62) |
| Chitwan | 14 (36) |
| Gorkha | 1 (3) |
| Snakes involved in bite | |
| Snakes seen after bite | 11 (28) |
| Killed and brought to hospital | 7 (18) |
| Killed snake brought | |
| Bungarus caeruleus | 6 (15) |
| Trimeresurus albolabris | 1 (3) |
| Trimeresurus albolabris (snake seen) | 2 (5) |
| Bungarus caeruleus (snake seen) | 1 (3) |
| Naja naja (not killed in fear of revenge by its partner) | 1 (3) |
| C. Pre-hospital interventions adopted | |
| a. Medical treatment sought | 6 (15) |
| 2 to 6 antivenom vials received in Kali Gandaki Hospital, Kawaswoti, Nawalparasi | 2 (5) |
| 2 antivenom vials received in Chormara Primary Healthcare Center | 1 (3) |
| Accessed in Kaligandaki Hospital, but responsible doctor for antivenom administration was absent | 1 (3) |
| Health Post in Dumkauli, Nawalparasi supplied with no antivenom | 2 (5) |
| b. Treatment seeking behaviour | |
| Consultation with Dhami/ Jhakri (local healers) | 7 (18) |
| Application of Jagmohar (Garud Dhunga) i.e., Snake Stone | 2 (5) |
| Testing of poisoning by eating chillies | 2 (5) |
| Incision of wound | 1 (3) |
| Application of paste by eroding sickle with stone | 1 (3) |
| Consultation with local healers and use of kerosene in wound | 1 (3) |
| Drinking alcohol | 1 (3) |
| Consultation with local healers, incision of wound, and ringing/deepening in potash solution | 1 (3) |
| c. Modes of transport used | |
| Ambulance | 14 (36) |
| Cycle, ambulance | 9 (23) |
| Bike | 4 (10) |
| Bus | 2 (5) |
| Bike, ambulance | 2 (5) |
| Cycle | 1 (3) |
| Van | 1 (3) |
| Truck | 1 (3) |
| Cycle, bike, ambulance | 1 (3) |
| Cycle, van | 1 (3) |
| Bike, van | 1 (3) |
| Cart, ambulance | 1 (3) |
| Cycle, cart, ambulance | 1 (3) |