TY - JOUR
T1 - Occupational Snake Bites
T2 - a Prospective Case Series of Patients Reported to the ToxIC North American Snakebite Registry
AU - Spyres, Meghan B.
AU - Ruha, Anne Michelle
AU - Seifert, Steven
AU - Onisko, Nancy
AU - Padilla-Jones, Angela
AU - Smith, Eric Anthony
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, American College of Medical Toxicology.
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Introduction: In the developing world, occupation has been identified as a risk factor for snake bite. Such an association has not been described in the USA. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of occupational snake bite in patients reported to the ToxIC North American Snakebite Registry (NASBR). Methods: This was a prospective case series of patients reported to the ToxIC NASBR between January 1, 2014 and November 5, 2015. Variables collected included snake species, patient demographics, date and location of exposure, occupation, bite location, clinical manifestations, and management. Results: Of 180 adult snake bites reported, 25 (13.9 %; 95 % CI 9.2–19.8 %) were occupational in nature. Rattlesnake envenomations were common (80 %). Most snake bites (96 %) occurred in men. Occupations most associated with snake bite were landscaping (28 %) and working directly with snakes (24 %). Fifty-six percent of bites occurred in an outdoor work environment. Seventy-six percent of envenomations were to the upper extremities. Intentional interaction occurred in 40 % of cases, all of which sustained finger envenomations. No cases presented with apparent acute ethanol intoxication. Conclusions: The majority of occupational snake bites occurred in men working outdoors and were unintentional injuries. Bites involving the upper extremity tended to result from intentional interactions. Acute ethanol intoxication did not appear to be involved with occupational envenomations.
AB - Introduction: In the developing world, occupation has been identified as a risk factor for snake bite. Such an association has not been described in the USA. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of occupational snake bite in patients reported to the ToxIC North American Snakebite Registry (NASBR). Methods: This was a prospective case series of patients reported to the ToxIC NASBR between January 1, 2014 and November 5, 2015. Variables collected included snake species, patient demographics, date and location of exposure, occupation, bite location, clinical manifestations, and management. Results: Of 180 adult snake bites reported, 25 (13.9 %; 95 % CI 9.2–19.8 %) were occupational in nature. Rattlesnake envenomations were common (80 %). Most snake bites (96 %) occurred in men. Occupations most associated with snake bite were landscaping (28 %) and working directly with snakes (24 %). Fifty-six percent of bites occurred in an outdoor work environment. Seventy-six percent of envenomations were to the upper extremities. Intentional interaction occurred in 40 % of cases, all of which sustained finger envenomations. No cases presented with apparent acute ethanol intoxication. Conclusions: The majority of occupational snake bites occurred in men working outdoors and were unintentional injuries. Bites involving the upper extremity tended to result from intentional interactions. Acute ethanol intoxication did not appear to be involved with occupational envenomations.
KW - Envenomation
KW - Occupation
KW - Risk factor
KW - Snake bite
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U2 - 10.1007/s13181-016-0555-7
DO - 10.1007/s13181-016-0555-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 27234295
AN - SCOPUS:84970991031
SN - 1556-9039
VL - 12
SP - 365
EP - 369
JO - Journal of Medical Toxicology
JF - Journal of Medical Toxicology
IS - 4
ER -