EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SCORPION ENVENOMATION IN THE STATE OF CEARÁ, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

This report is a retrospective study of the epidemiology of scorpion sting cases recorded from 2007 to 2013 in the State of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. Data were collected from the Injury Notification Information System database of the Health Department of Ceará. A total of 11,134 cases were studied and distributed across all the months of the studied period and they occurred mainly in urban areas. Victims were predominantly 20-29 years-old women. Most victims were bitten on the hand; and received medical assistance within 1-3 hours after being bitten. Cases were mostly classified as mild and progressed to cure. Scorpion envenomation in Ceará is an environmental public health problem that needs to be monitored and controlled throughout the year

Epidemiology of official accidents, State of Ceará, Brazil (2007-2013)

Os casos de acidentes ofídicos são um problema de saúde pública para países de regiões tropicais. O presente estudo é uma investigação retrospectiva que descreve e analisa as características epidemiológicas dos casos de acidentes ofídicos no Estado do Ceará, Brasil, de 2007 a 2013. Os dados foram coletados na Secretaria Estadual de Saúde do Ceará, utilizando a base de dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. Foram analisados um total de 4 058 casos. Os acidentes foram distribuídos em todos os meses dos anos, ocorrendo com maior frequência entre os meses de março (n = 437) a julho (n = 479). A maioria dos casos afetou homens (n = 3 275), na faixa etária entre 20 e 29 anos (n = 696), com baixo nível de escolaridade (n = 1 821), pardos (n = 2 729), residentes (n = 3 327) e trabalhadores (n = 1 360) rurais. Os casos ocorreram predominantemente na zona rural (n = 3 623) e sem relação com o trabalho (n = 1 984). O gênero Bothrops foi responsável pelo maior número de casos (n = 3 319). O pé foi região do corpo mais atingida pelas picadas (n = 2 027). A maioria das vítimas foi atendida entre 1 e 3 horas após o acidente (n = 1 718). Ocorreram mais manifestações locais (n = 3 468) que sistêmicas (n = 785). O sintoma local mais frequente foi dor (n = 3 211) e o sistêmico foram as manifestações hemorrágicas (n = 262). A maior parte dos acidentes foram classificados como leve (n = 2 463) e evoluíram para cura (n = 3 564). A soroterapia foi administrada na maioria dos casos (n = 3 534). Os acidentes ofídicos no Estado do Ceará pode ser considerado um problema de saúde pública. Treinamento adicional para os profissionais de saúde parecem ser necessários para aprimorar a sua capacidade para coletar os dados epidemiológicos, bem para melhorar o atendimento as vítimas dos acidentes ofídicos.The cases of snakebites are a public health issue for countries from tropical regions. This study is a retrospective research to describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of cases of snakebites in the State of Ceará, Brazil, from 2007 to 2013. Data was collected from the Injury Notification Information System database of the Health Department of Ceará. A total of 4,058 cases were analyzed. Snakebites were distributed in every month of the year, occurring most between the months from March (n = 437) to July (n = 479). Most cases affected young men (n = 3,275), aged between 20 and 29 years old (n = 696), with low educational level (n = 1,821), brown skin (n = 2,729), rural residents (n = 3,327) and workers (n = 1,360). The cases occurred predominantly in rural areas (n = 3,623) and unrelated to the work (n = 1 984). The genus Bothrops was responsible for the largest number of cases (n = 3,319). The part of the body most affected by the bites was the foot (n = 2,027). Most of the victims was attended between 1 and 3 hours after the accident (n = 1,718). There were more local events (n = 3,468) that systemic (n = 785). The most frequent site symptom was pain (n = 3,211) and systemic were hemorrhagic manifestations (n = 262). Most cases were classified as mild (n = 2,463) and were cured (n = 3,564). The antivenom was administered in most cases (n = 3,534). The snakebites in the State of Ceará may be considered an environmental health problem. Additional training for health professionals appear to be necessary to enhance their ability to collect epidemiological data and to improve the care of victims of snakebites.CNP