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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: This study provides the first contemporary epidemiological insight into venomous injuries based on demographics and geography in Australia in the timeframe 2000-2013.
METHODS: Analysis of national hospitalisation and mortality data to examine the incidence of injury and death due to envenoming in Australia. Rates were calculated using the intercensal population for all Australian age groups.
RESULTS: Over the study period, deaths were due to an anaphylactic event (0.16 per 100 000), snake envenoming (0.13 per 100 000) or box jellyfish envenoming (0.01 per 100 000). Only 44% of cases involving anaphylaxis reached medical care prior to death, compared to 74% of those envenomed by snakes. Over half of all deaths (52%) occurred at home, and 64% of these occurred within a major city or inner regional area, with 48% of anaphylaxis deaths work related. Hospital admission rates of 199 per 100 000 persons over the 11 years were caused by contact with wasps or bees (31%), spiders (30%) and snakes (15%) with a predominate age range of 30-44 years.
CONCLUSIONS: The greatest burden of injury due to envenoming was caused by arthropods and snakes. Causes of death led by anaphylaxis subsequent to an arthropod bite or sting, followed by death from snake envenoming. Over half the incidence resulting in death occurred at home, in areas where health care is accessible. Operational data routinely collected is informative, with variations of injury incidence between States and Territories indicating a need for a more localised approach to management of this injury.
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Language: en |