TY - JOUR
T1 - Venemous snake bites worldwide with a focus on the Australia-Pacific region
T2 - Current management and controversies
AU - Cheng, Allen
AU - Currie, Bart
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Snakebites are estimated to cause approximately 100,000 deaths each year worldwide and disproportionately affect rural populations in resource-poor settings. Snake venoms may produce local tissue damage and/or distinct clinical syndromes, including neurotoxicity, coagulopathy, hypotension, rhabdomyolysis, and renal failure. Field management is aimed at delaying systemic absorption of toxins, minimizing local damage and infection, and expediting transport to medical facilities. The use of the pressureimmobilization method remains controversial. The use of antivenom, administered in a timely fashion and in adequate doses, is the mainstay of hospital treatment of significant envenomation. The availability, efficacy, and safety of antivenoms vary throughout the world, with a current crisis in antivenom supplies.
AB - Snakebites are estimated to cause approximately 100,000 deaths each year worldwide and disproportionately affect rural populations in resource-poor settings. Snake venoms may produce local tissue damage and/or distinct clinical syndromes, including neurotoxicity, coagulopathy, hypotension, rhabdomyolysis, and renal failure. Field management is aimed at delaying systemic absorption of toxins, minimizing local damage and infection, and expediting transport to medical facilities. The use of the pressureimmobilization method remains controversial. The use of antivenom, administered in a timely fashion and in adequate doses, is the mainstay of hospital treatment of significant envenomation. The availability, efficacy, and safety of antivenoms vary throughout the world, with a current crisis in antivenom supplies.
KW - Australia-Pacific
KW - Bites
KW - Snake
KW - Venemous
U2 - 10.1177/0885066604265799
DO - 10.1177/0885066604265799
M3 - Comment/debate
VL - 19
SP - 259
EP - 269
JO - Journal of Intensive Care Medicine
JF - Journal of Intensive Care Medicine
SN - 0885-0666
IS - 5
ER -