@article{104086,
  keywords = {Anti-snake venom, delayed presentation, evenomation, golden hour, Mortality, snakebite},
  author = {Chandra V and Srivastava S and Sharma M},
  title = {Effect of Delayed Presentation on the Prognosis of Snakebite Victims at a Tertiary Care Hospital: The Golden Hour Matters},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Introduction:</strong></p>

<p>Snakebite envenomation is one of the important public health problems in India, and many deaths and morbidity in rural areas are attributed to snakebite envenomation.</p>

<p><strong>Objective:</strong></p>

<p>This study aimed to evaluate the impact of time from bite to hospital on clinical outcomes of snakebite patients admitted to a tertiary care centre in Uttar Pradesh.</p>

<p><strong>Methodology:</strong></p>

<p>A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raebareli, for a period of one year, from March 2025 to March 2026. A total of 30 envenomated patients who were confirmed to have been bitten by snakes were included and divided into four groups: Group I (patients bitten within six hours), Group II (six to 12 hours), Group III (12-18 hours), and Group IV (18-24 hours). Severity of disease, systemic toxicity, anti-snake venom (ASV) requirements, complications, and mortality were assessed. Results: The mean age was 28.0 years (range 9-70). Most patients were male (53.3%) and from low socioeconomic backgrounds (53.3%). Lower limb bites predominated (53.3%). Dyspnoea and drowsiness were universal (100%). Out of four deaths, one occurred in patients presenting within six hours and three deaths in patients presenting between 18 and 24 hours, with 75% mortality in the 18-24-hour group (3/4) versus 7.1% in the zero-to-six-hour group (1/14). Recovery rates were highest in the zero-to-six-hour group (71.4%).</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>

<p>Delayed hospital presentation is strongly associated with worse outcomes in snakebite envenomation. The "golden hour" p</p>
},
  year = {2026},
  journal = {Cureus},
  volume = {18},
  pages = {1 - 7},
  month = {09/2026},
  publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
  issn = {2168-8184},
  url = {https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/531184/20260907-1729582-wlcagr.pdf},
  doi = {10.7759/cureus.115910},
  language = {ENG},
}