Análisis clínico y epidemiológico de los accidentes por mordeduras de serpientes del género Bothrops en Venezuela

clinical register of 60 patients bitten by bothrops snake who assisted at leopoldo manrique hospital and the institute of tropical medicine (hlm-imt) in caracas during 1996-1997 were analysed. the accident was more frequent in males (45/75 %). in 32 cases (53.3 %) the snake was classified and 26 were bothrops lanceolatus, 4 bothrops venezuelensis and 2 bothrops atrox. anatomic regions more frequent bitten were superior members (40/66.6 %): hands (36/60 %), forearm (2/3.3 %), elbow (1/1.6 %) and arm (1/1.6 %). on inferior members (20/33.3 %): legs (6/10 %), feet (10/16.7 %), ankle (2/3.3 %), and the hip (2:3.3 %). the most frequent clinical manifestations in moderate and severe cases (33 patient) were pain (100 %), oedema (98 %), echimosis (76 %), blisters (20 %), necrosis (12 %), abscess ( 6 %) bleeding (19 %), heart failure (1/1.6 %), renal failure (1/1.6 %). the blood clotting was evaluated in 60 (100 %) cases and it was altered in 33 (55 %) patients. no deaths were recorded.