Predictors of Renal Complications in Children With Hematotoxic Snakebite.

OBJECTIVE

To study the predictors of renal complications following hematotoxic snakebite in children.

METHODS

This comparative study was conducted in the pediatric ward of a tertiary-care centre among 364 consecutively children admitted with hematotoxic snakebite between January 2016 and December 2017. Clinical and laboratory indicators were compared between children who developed acute kidney injury and those who did not.

RESULTS

Acute kidney injury was seen in 139 children (38.2%), majority being stage 2 (55, 39.5%). 59 children (16.2%) developed permanent renal damage and 16 (4.4%) died due to envenomation. Acute tubular necrosis was the most common (25, 39.1%) histopathological change.

CONCLUSIONS

Receiving anti-snake venom more than one hour after bite was the most significant adverse prognostic indicator, both for renal complications and mortality.