02154nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001653001400042653002600056653001600082653002300098653002800121100001400149700001200163700001200175700001100187700001000198700001000208245014400218856004400362520150400406022001401910       2019                            d10asnakebite10aSnake-bite envenoming10aSouth Korea10aSnakebite injuries10aEpidemiological profile1 aSenek MZF1 aKong SY1 aShin SD1 aSun KM1 aKim J1 aRo YS00aEpidemiological profile and outcomes of snakebite injuries treated in emergency departments in South Korea, 2011-2016: a descriptive study.  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/6/3633 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Snakebite is a global public health crisis, but there are no nationwide data on snakebite in South Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile and outcomes of snakebite cases in South Korea seasonally.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>The selected subjects were patients of all ages with a chief complaint of snakebite who presented to participating emergency departments (EDs) between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2016.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>A total of 1335 patients were eligible for the study. There were an average of 223 snakebite cases reported each year. Most snakebites occurred during the summer months (55.9%) in patients aged 40-59 y (36.3%) and males (61.5%). Snakebites occurred most frequently on Mondays (22.9%) between 12:00 and 17:59 h (42.0%) outdoors (57.9%) and in farm areas (20.7%). Over 82% of the bites were by venomous snakes across all seasons, and 66% of the patients visited EDs without using emergency medical services. Based on the excess mortality ratio-adjusted injury severity score, 88, 9.2 and 2.8% had mild, moderate and severe injuries, respectively. There were 10 fatalities during the study period.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>This study provides essential information to understand and assess the burden and distribution of snakebites in South Korea and provides valuable information for developing appropriate prevention and control interventions to address it.</p>
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