Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
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Comparative Study
Epidemiology of snakebite in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Three hundred and thirty-three patients admitted to Eshowe Hospital with snakebite were analysed. Forty-one were non-envenomed, 282 exhibited painful progressive swelling (PPS), seven showed progressive weakness (PW), and there were three cases of minor envenomations that were unclassifiable. Offending dead venomous snakes included Naja mossambica (Mozambique spitting cobra), Bitis arietans (puff adder), Atractaspis bibronii (stiletto snake), Causus rhombeatus (common night adder) and Dendroaspis polylepis (black mamba). ⋯ Four patients with PW developed respiratory failure. Antivenom was administered to 12 patients, five of whom developed an acute adverse reaction. There was one death.