Resumen

VILLANUEVA FORERO, Miguel, MAGUINA VARGAS, Ciro, CABADA SAMAME, Miguel Mauricio et al. Ofidismo en la provincia de Chanchamayo, Junín: revisión de 170 casos consecutivos en el Hospital de Apoyo de La Merced . Rev Med Hered, abr./jun. 2004, vol.15, no.2, p.82-87. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the snake bite accident (SBA) in the province of Chanchamayo, Junin, Peru. Material and Methods: All clinical records from hospitalized patients with diagnosis of SBA in the "Hospital de Apoyo de La Merced" (HALM), Junin, Peru, between January 1998 and December 2000 were reviewed. Demographic and clinico-epidemiological data were gathered. Results: Reviewed charts were 195 and 170 of these were included in the analysis. Mean age was 26.2 years, 62.4% were male. La Merced was the most common district of residence (43.5%). SBA occurred with greater frequency (67%) during the rainy season (from December to May). Bites were located most frequently in the lower limbs (67.7%). The mean time between the accident and receiving medical attention was 5 hrs 43 min (± 5 hrs 56 min). The snake species was identify in 37.6% of the times, being Bothrops atrox the more common (36.5%). Pain, edema, erithema were the symptoms at presentation in 80% of the subjects. The majority (78.3%) received antiofidic serum, from these, 18.8% had anaphylactoid or urticariform reactions after the infusion. The most frequent complication was cellulites, this appeared with greater frequency in patients who received corticosteriods for more than 5 days (p=0.024). None of the patients died as a consequence of the SBA. Conclusions: SBA in this region are of rural type. The utilization of corticosteroids for more than 5 days was associated with a greater frequency of cellulites. Allergic reactions to the atiofidic serum are not rare, being advisable to perform an intradermic test prior to its administration. (Rev Med Hered 2004; 15:82-87 ).

Palabras llave: Snake bite; bothrops atrox,; Chanchamayo.