Approach to the diagnosis and management of snakebite envenomation in South Africa in humans.

T Hardcastle; A Engelbrecht; V Lalloo; C Bell; M Toubkin

South African Medical Journal (Jun 2023)

Approach to the diagnosis and management of snakebite envenomation in South Africa in humans.

T Hardcastle,
A Engelbrecht,
V Lalloo,
C Bell,
M Toubkin

Affiliations

T Hardcastle: Trauma and Burns Service, IALCH and Dept of Health KZN; Dept of Surgical Sciences, NRMSM, University of KwaZulu-Natal; National snakebite advisory group
A Engelbrecht: National snakebite advisory group; Emergency Medicine, University of Pretoria
V Lalloo: National snakebite advisory group; Emergency Medicine, University of Pretoria
C Bell: National snakebite advisory group; Mosvold Hospital, Dept of Health KZN and Family Medicine UKZN
M Toubkin: National snakebite advisory group; GM Netcare Emergency, Trauma and Transplant. Netcare Head Office, Sandton

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 113, no. 6

Abstract

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Snake bite management is largely driven by expert opinion and consensus, however there are a few large retrospective studies and RCT’s that have improved the quality of medical guidance currently available. South African snakes are different in the venomous potential and it behooves the hospital provider and the average medical practitioner to know the current best practice concepts concerning assessment, treatment and antivenom use. The recent SASS meeting in July 2022 provided an update and national consensus from which this Hospital Care document is derived.

snakebite

Published in South African Medical Journal

ISSN: 0256-9574 (Print); 2078-5135 (Online)
Publisher: South African Medical Association
Country of publisher: South Africa
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/index

About the journal

Abstract

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