A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF BITES AND STINGS PRESENTING TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
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Keywords
Arthropod, Bite, Emergency, Management, Snakes, Stings
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Despite increasing health effects of bite and stings and their associated consequences, research on their frequency is limited. The aim of present study is to estimate the proportion of bites and stings cases, to describe the clinico-demographic of bites and stings presenting to emergency medicine and to estimate the outcome of exposure.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present retrospective study was conducted at Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Tumkur among the 120 patients of bite and sting exposure during the period of April 2022 to March 2023. The information relevant to Bite and sting cases was noted down and results were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0
RESULTS
The number of patients in the age group of 20-30 years was 22, in the age group of 30-40 years was 30, in the age group of 40-50 years was 48 and in the age group of 50-60 years was 20. The number of female patients was 45 whereas that of male was 75. Different bite and stings found were bee/wasps sting (27), unknown insect bites (12), dog bites (54), cat and rat bites (7), snake bite (2) and scorpion sting (3). 8 patients belong to urban region where as 112 patients belong to rural area. 98 patients had local symptoms at presentation and 22 patients had systemic symptoms.
CONCLUSION
The majority of cases presenting to the emergency department are due to dog bites and bee stings. Physicians must possess comprehensive knowledge of of bites and stings that occur in their specific geographic area in order to effectively handle such situations.
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Dr. Spoorthy M.
Junior Resident, Department of Emergency Medicine, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India.
Dr. Deepak T. G.
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India.