Several controversies exist in Hypnale bite management in Kerala. Even though leading bodies like WHO recommend against using antivenom for hypnale bites, many physicians still administer antivenom for snakebites even when the culprit snake is identified. Anecdotal experience suggests that the reasons for doing so range from lack of confidence in the identification of the snake, confusion as to whether or not to approach it syndromically and symptomatically rather than relying on the species identification, doubts as to whether there exists para-specific neutralization capability for the available polyvalent antivenom and fear of medicolegal culpability in denying antivenom in a case of 'snake envenomation'. To date, these domains and rationale have not been studied. It is also to be kept in mind that the evidence behind the WHO recommendation against the use of antivenom in Hypnale is based on expert opinion and case reports. The investigators intend to compare clinical manifestation and outcome amongst Hypnale hypnale bite patients who received the polyvalent antivenom to those who did not. The investigators also intend to describe the clinical and laboratorical profile of patients with Hypnale hypnale envenomation .
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Mortality among patients administered antivenom compared to those who did not received the antivenom
Timeframe: 3 months
Morbidity among patients administered antivenom compared to those who did not received the antivenom
Timeframe: 3 months