Analysis of prevalence and characteristics of venomous snakebites in Croatia

Abstract

Na prostoru Republike Hrvatske živi 15 vrsta zmija od kojih su tri otrovnice – poskok (Vipera ammodytes), riđovka (Vipera berus) i planinski žutokrug (Vipera ursinii macrops). U cilju što boljeg poznavanja opasnosti od ugriza zmija, učestalosti i posljedica, načinjena je ova retrospektivna studija analize otpusnih pisama iz glavnih bolnica Zagrebačke županije, Grada Zagreba i Brodsko-posavske županije. Prikupljeno je 61 otpusno pismo iz razdoblja od 1998. do 2008. godine. Učestalost ugriza za prostor Zagrebačke županije i Grada Zagreba iznosi 4,8 ugriza godišnje (0,441 ugriza na 100 000 stanovnika), a za Brodsko-posavsku županiju 1,3 ugriza godišnje (0,735 ugriza na 100 000 stanovnika). Procjenom težine ugriza pomoću simptoma zaključeno je da prevladavaju srednje teški slučajevi sa malim brojem teških slučajeva. U istraživanom razdoblju nije zabilježen nijedan smrtni slučaj.There are 15 snake species living in the area of Republic of Croatia, three of them being venomous – horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), common European viper (Vipera berus) and meadow viper (Vipera ursinii macrops). The aim of this retrospective study of hospital release letters was gaining better knowledge of danger of snakebites, their prevalence and consequences. Release letter were obtained from central hospitals in Zagreb county, City of Zagreb county and Brodsko-posavska county. Altogether, there was 61 release letters for the period from 1998 to 2008. Snakebite prevalence for Zagreb and City of Zagreb counties is 4,8 envenomings yearly (0,441 envenomings on 100 000 people), and 1,3 envenomings yearly (0,735 envenomings on 100 000 people) for Brodsko-posavska county. After reviewing the severity of envenomings using noted symptoms it was concluded that most cases are moderate with very few severe cases. There were no fatalities in the reviewed period