Descriptive epidemiology of snakebites in the Veraguas province of Panama, 2007-2008.

Background: Panama has the highest incidence of snakebites in Central America, however, few studies have looked at the epidemiology of human snakebites in Panama.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center study reviewed individuals who sustained a snakebite from 2007-2008. Demographic data, disease severity, species of snake, treatment, infectious complications and antibiotic usage were collected from the hospital records.

Results: Data were collected over a 2-y period, with a total of 390 records of snakebites. Bothrops asper was responsible for 43.8% of cases and the majority of the cases occurred during the rainy season. The majority of bites (74.7%) occurred on the hands, feet or toes. Antivenom was used in 55% of patients and 67% of patients received tetanus toxoid. Only 8.7% of individuals presented to the hospital within 1 h of envenomation and more than 25% presented >6 h after envenomation.

Conclusions: B. asper is responsible for the majority of snakebites in the Veraguas province of Panama. Snakebites tend to occur during the rainy season, with the majority of bites occurring on the feet. Several management factors need to improve in Panama: time to presentation, which is prolonged in the majority of cases, and antivenom, antibiotic and tetanus toxoid delivery should be standardized to optimize care.