[Hospitalizations due to external causes involving contact with animals in a general hospital in the interior of Bahia State, Brazil, 2009-2011].

OBJECTIVE

to describe the characteristics of hospitalizations due to external causes involving contact with animals in a general hospital in the interior of Bahia State (BA), Brazil, from 2009 to 2011.

METHODS

this was a descriptive study using data on hospital admissions in Jequié-BA.

RESULTS

there were 246 admissions owing to accidents involving contact with animals, especially venomous ones (83.3% snake venom, and 6.5% scorpion venom); most involved male victims (66.7%), the 20-59 year age group (50.4%), and people resident in rural areas (91.2%); most hospitalizations occurred during the night shift (39.0%) and on weekdays (69.1%); most cases had 1 to 3 day inpatient stays (50.8%), and 97.6% were subsequently discharged.

CONCLUSION

snakebites and scorpion stings were the most frequent accidents and predominantly affected young men living in the rural area.