Profile of Snakebite Accidents in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2001 to 2012: An Epidemiological Study

Aims: The present study aimed to epidemiologically characterize snakebite accidents in Rio de Janeiro, from 2001 to 2012.

Study Design: This was an ecological study, using secondary data.

Place and Duration of Study: The data used referred to cases notified in the state of Rio de Janeiro in the official database SINAN between the years of 2001 to 2012.

Methodology: Data registered in SINAN were obtained through the online platform DATASUS, consisting of the number of notified cases, snake genera involved, accident classification, victim age group, time elapsed between accident and medical care, and case evolution.

Results: The analysis was impaired by the great amount of data not informed in notifications. From the registered data, it can be seen that the total number of notified cases has been increasing, which may be due to greater contact with snakes among individuals over the course of the years and/or better notification. In all the years, the genus most frequently involved was Bothrops, as occurs at national level. The individuals affected were most frequently aged between 20 and 59 years. Most cases were classified as mild and evolved to cure without sequelae.

Conclusions: It is concluded that snakebites in Rio de Janeiro have been gaining importance as a public health issue, especially due to the increasing numbers of cases and their potential severity, and because they mainly affect individuals of productive age. Investments in prevention programs and in training healthcare professionals are recommended in order to recognize and treat these accidents. The need for better data entry on the compulsory notification form is highlighted, with the aim of improving data quality and enabling reliable analysis on the country’s health problems.