Analysis of the venomous snakebite patients treated in the Užice General Hospital (Western Serbia) between 2006 and 2018

Introduction/Objective. A countrywide survey of venomous snakebites was never conducted in Serbia: the making of a central register was initiated only in 2018. We collected and analyzed the available data regarding venomous snakebites in the Užice region (Western Serbia). The previous analysis from this hospital was published in 1968. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the data regarding the venomous snakebite patients treated at the Užice General Hospital between 2006 and 2018 and compared these with the data from the 1960s, from one more hospital in Serbia, and from two ex-Yugoslav countries. Results In 13 years, 249 persons were treated. Of all cases, 10.4% were with inconspicuous symptoms (mild pain at the place of bite), 68.7% were with mild to moderate symptoms, and 20.9% were more or less severe. No fatalities were recorded. Conclusion. Although usually not a life-threatening issue, venomous snakebites are quite common and can cause serious complications. With proper education, many can be avoided. Also, bearing in mind not only the biodiversity per se but also the importance of snakes’ venoms for the making of various medically important products, we emphasize the need for proper protection of all three venomous snake species in Serbia, namely Vipera ammodytes (nose-horned viper), V. berus (European adder), and V. ursinii (meadow viper).