article · BMC Pediatrics
Paediatric snakebite envenoming represents a critical health burden in Northeastern Nigeria, where outdoor play, livestock herding, and farming expose children to venomous snakes. A retrospective analysis of 723 children aged up to 17 years treated at a specialised treatment and research hospital in Kaltungo during 2024 evaluated patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. The majority of patients were male, the median age was 12 years, and bite admissions peaked in April. Nearly two-thirds of patients took four hours or more to reach the hospital after an envenoming event. Delayed hospital arrival substantially lowered the likelihood of recovering without severe complications such as debridement, amputation, or death. Furthermore, among patients treated with antivenom, the administered dose, speed of administration, and antivenom cost were significantly linked to recovery outcomes, underscoring the necessity of public health education on rapid medical presentation.
Snakebites inflict severe trauma and life-altering complications on children in rural agricultural settings. Demonstrating that arrival delays and antivenom costs directly worsen patient outcomes provides clear evidence for public health bodies. It highlights the urgent need for community education and subsidised medical resources to ensure children receive timely, accessible clinical care before permanent tissue damage or fatal complications occur.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercial application pathway for a product. However, the operational insights can guide healthcare providers, non-governmental organisations, and public health programmes in structuring subsidised antivenom supply chains and rural transport networks. Because this is observational epidemiological research, translation into commercial products or tools remains distant from real-world market use.
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BACKGROUND: Nigeria remains one of the highest burden bearers of snakebite envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa. In Northeastern Nigeria, where agricultural practice, livestock herding and outdoor play—especially during the dark hours—are common, children are frequently exposed to snakes. Due to the unique challenges posed by paediatric snakebite envenoming and the paucity of data on paediatric snakebites, there is need for local research on this subject. The study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the characteristics and outcomes of paediatric snakebites in our setting. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Snakebite Treatment and Research Hospital (SBTRH) in Kaltungo, Northeastern Nigeria. Medical records of 723 patients aged 0 to 17 years treated at this facility between 1 January to 31 December 2024 were retrieved. Socio-demographic information and key clinical data were extracted from paper-based records and recorded in a Microsoft Excel document. The association between patient characteristics and likelihood of recovery without complications like amputation, debridement or death, was assessed using univariate and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: There were 480 male patients (66%) and the median age of patients was 12 (range 1 to 17). Within the study period, snakebites in children were most common in April (n = 102, 14%). Nearly two-thirds of the participants (n = 468, 65%) took four hours or more to present to hospital after being bitten. Indeed, patients who took four hours or more to arrive to hospital were less likely to recover without complications (Unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.12–0.43). A sub-analysis among patients who received antivenom revealed that antivenom dose, time to antivenom administration, and antivenom cost were all significantly associated with likelihood of recovery without complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that some patient characteristics may contribute to poor outcomes among paediatric snakebite patients in Northeastern Nigeria. It demonstrated the increased risk of complications among those presenting to hospital more than four hours after being bitten, those without timely antivenom administration, and those who paid for antivenom. We hereby recommend increased awareness and health education on early presentation after snakebites.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12887-025-05910-3
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