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Epidemiology and injuries (1994–2005) resulting from poisonous animals in southern Santa Catarina State, Brazil

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Abstract

Accidents involving poisonous animals in southern Santa Catarina State, Brazil, from 1994 to 2005 were evaluated with the aim of verifying their frequency through the analysis of 2,625 victim’s reports involving poisonous animals from the SINAN (System of Injury Notification Information) files of the Municipal Health Secretary of the AMESC and AMREC microregions, formed by 27 municipalities. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square exact test to verify similarities between the AMREC and AMESC microregions, where p values ≤0.05 were considered significant. The results demonstrated that: 52.95% (n = 1,390) of occurrences involved spiders, 18.13% (n = 476) snakes, 5.00% (n = 131) bees, 2.29% (n = 60) caterpillars, 1.41% (n = 37) scorpions, 5.45% (n = 143) other animals and 14.78% (n = 388) unknown. The anatomic region that suffered the most bites was the feet 16.11% (n = 444). Accidents were more frequent in men 54.64% (n = 1.437) than in women 45.25% (n = 1,188). In only 1.18% (n = 31) of cases did recovery present sequelae. The months presenting the highest number of recorded cases were October through March, spring and summer in Brazil. The high frequency of victim recuperation suggests that the public health system is efficient, and the low frequency of recovered victims with sequelae also suggests that this system is fast and well-adjusted. However, there may have been deficiencies in the epidemiologic information system.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for their financial support. The authors would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Municipal Health Secretary of the AMESC and AMREC.

Conflict of interest statement

The present work has no actual or potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense—UNESC, Avenida Universitária 1105, Bairro Universitário, Caixa Postal 3167, Criciúma, 88806-000, Santa Catarina, Brasil

    Danon Clemes Cardoso, Maykon Passos Cristiano, Samuel Costa & Jairo José Zocche

  2. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Rod. Admar Gonzaga 1346, Itacorubi, 88034-001, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil

    Melissa dos Santos Raymundo

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  1. Danon Clemes Cardoso
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  2. Maykon Passos Cristiano
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  3. Melissa dos Santos Raymundo
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  4. Samuel Costa
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  5. Jairo José Zocche
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Correspondence to Danon Clemes Cardoso.

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Cardoso, D.C., Cristiano, M.P., dos Santos Raymundo, M. et al. Epidemiology and injuries (1994–2005) resulting from poisonous animals in southern Santa Catarina State, Brazil. J Public Health 15, 467–472 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0095-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0095-3

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