Venomous Snake Bites in Japan

Abstract

Abstract. Few reliable data are available on the incidence of snake bites in developing and developed nations. Insufficient epidemiologic data have hindered the recognition of snake bite as an important public health issue. We verified statistics of snake bites (mamushi and habu bites) in Japan by using a currently available, nationally representative, hospital-based database. We identified 1,670 inpatients with snake bites from 404 hospitals during July 1-December 31 in 2007 and 2008. More than 60% were males, the average age was 60.1 years, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 0.2%.

Scrub typhus cases in a family

“…Rare but some, since the prognosis of the patients might be mortal [5,6], Tsutsugamushi diseased need early diagnosis and starting antibiotics including minocycline [4]. The standard regimen is tetracycline (minocycline or doxycycline), and alternatives is chloramphenicol, rifampicin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin [1,4,6]. Usually measuring serum antibody titer against Orientia tsutsugamushi is utilized for the diagnosis [2], but sometimes that might need the days.…”

“…Therefore, physicians working other than Asia-Western Pacific region also should be aware of its clinical features. Rare but some, since the prognosis of the patients might be mortal [5,6], Tsutsugamushi diseased need early diagnosis and starting antibiotics including minocycline [4]. The standard regimen is tetracycline (minocycline or doxycycline), and alternatives is chloramphenicol, rifampicin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin [1,4,6].…”

“…Orientia tsutsugamushi is widely distributed through the Asia-Western Pacific region [1]. Fever, skin eruption, lymphadenopathy, and eschar (localized necrotic lesion) at the site of the chigger bite are known as the specific findings for the diagnosis [2][3][4][5]. The incubation period is around two weeks, and sometimes occurs as imported disease in tourists [2,3].…”

Comprehensive snake venomics of the Okinawa Habu pit viper, Protobothrops flavoviridis, by complementary mass spectrometry-guided approaches

“…They coexist with man over the entire country even on the smaller islands, wherein the diverse climatic conditions play a decisive role in the distribution of snakes [7]. The more densely inhabited areas exhibit a higher risk of bites and envenomation, which is further increased in the subtropical regions during the warm summer months [7]. Representatives of the most dangerous…”

Acute Kidney Injury and Rhabdomyolysis After Protobothrops flavoviridis Bite: A Retrospective Survey of 86 Patients in a Tertiary Care Center

“…7 These complications are prone to cause AKI, which is the main organ damage observed after Viperidae bites. There were epidemiological studies about snakebites on Amami Ohshima islands, [8][9][10] but there have been no large studies of the temporal development of AKI caused by P. flavoviridis venom.…”