GUIDELINES FOR THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF SNAKEBITES IN IRAN

Many areas of Iran are suitable habitat for the snakes. Annually, 4500 to 7000
snakebites occur in the country. Although many books and articles have been published about the
snakebite in Iran, but no clinical guideline is available freely for clinicians in Persian language. This
paper aimed to present a comprehensive overview of the snakebite in Iran.
Materials & Methods: A detailed search was performed in medical electronic databases and libraries
of Urmia University of Medical Sciences. More than fifty scientific papers, textbooks, clinical guides
and pharmaceutical brochure were accurately studied and useful details of each reference were
recorded. Then the initial draft of the current guideline was prepared and reviewed. Finally, in a focus
group with presence of experts from different medical specialties, the final version of current clinical
guideline was developed.
Results: This clinical guideline contains useful information about the geographical distribution of
snakes in the world, general characteristics and identification of snakes, snake venom, clinical
presentations, principles of diagnosis, severity grading and details of snakebite management,
antivenom administration, prognosis and snakebites in specific groups (women and children) and
some recommendations for prevention of snakebite.
Conclusions: Despite previous references which have been offered only certain aspects of snakebite,
accurate and practical tips required for comprehensive management of snakebite are presented in this
article.