The World Health Organization has classified “snakebite” as a Neglected Tropical disease in 2017, and aims to bring down the envenomation and mortality rate by half by 2030. Envenomation by snakes is a common phenomenon in under-developed and developing countries resulting in thousands of deaths and disabilities in patients every year. India being the “Snakebite capital of the world,” has the highest estimated number of snakebite-associated deaths (~58,000) and disability-associated life years (DALYs) (~3 million), which highlight the bleak and miserable condition of victims, who are often the sole bread-earner and belong to marginalized sections of the society. In this entry, the immediate, and short-term and long-term physical disabilities, as well as psychological disabilities after snake envenomation has been highlighted. Moreover, the consequences of these disabilities, such as, loss of employment and the lack of socio-economic support from government schemes have also be discussed. Further, the perspective of the author in the form of recommendations for improving the overall condition of the victims, and providing support for their rehabilitation, have also be presented. A “National Skill Development Scheme for Snakebite Victims (NSDSSV)” in developing countries like India is advocated to support victims who lost employment due to snake envenomation. Additional steps should also be undertaken to minimize psychological trauma and ophidiophobia, which may have an adverse cultural impact as well. Developing a robust healthcare system, along with proper socio-economic support to the victims with disabilities post-envenomation, will not only improve their quality-of-life but also motivate people to promote and participate in snake conservation efforts.

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Disability After Snake Bites

  • Amit Talukdar,
  • Mandira Basumatary

摘要

The World Health Organization has classified “snakebite” as a Neglected Tropical disease in 2017, and aims to bring down the envenomation and mortality rate by half by 2030. Envenomation by snakes is a common phenomenon in under-developed and developing countries resulting in thousands of deaths and disabilities in patients every year. India being the “Snakebite capital of the world,” has the highest estimated number of snakebite-associated deaths (~58,000) and disability-associated life years (DALYs) (~3 million), which highlight the bleak and miserable condition of victims, who are often the sole bread-earner and belong to marginalized sections of the society. In this entry, the immediate, and short-term and long-term physical disabilities, as well as psychological disabilities after snake envenomation has been highlighted. Moreover, the consequences of these disabilities, such as, loss of employment and the lack of socio-economic support from government schemes have also be discussed. Further, the perspective of the author in the form of recommendations for improving the overall condition of the victims, and providing support for their rehabilitation, have also be presented. A “National Skill Development Scheme for Snakebite Victims (NSDSSV)” in developing countries like India is advocated to support victims who lost employment due to snake envenomation. Additional steps should also be undertaken to minimize psychological trauma and ophidiophobia, which may have an adverse cultural impact as well. Developing a robust healthcare system, along with proper socio-economic support to the victims with disabilities post-envenomation, will not only improve their quality-of-life but also motivate people to promote and participate in snake conservation efforts.