Snakebite During Pregnancy: A Literature Review

✍ Scribed by Ricky Lee Langley

• Book ID: 104099720
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 188 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1080-6032
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2009.12.025

✦ Synopsis

Objective.-To review reported bites by venomous snakes in pregnant women. Methods.-This is a review of Medline/PubMed articles on venomous snakebites occurring during pregnancy reported in the English literature from 1966 to May 2009.

Results.-Two hundred thirteen venomous snakebites were reported in pregnant women. The overall case-fatality rate in the pregnant females was approximately 4%, and the fetal loss rate was approximately 20%.

Conclusions.-Although rare, venomous bites and stings during pregnancy may have a significant adverse effect on the fetus as well as the mother.