[Epidemiology and management of snakebites in the province of Bas-Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo)].

A study on epidemiology and management of snakebites was performed in the province of Bas-Congo of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This province, located in the West of the RDC is divided into 31 health zones and several other secondary health structures. The study extended over a period going from 2000 to 2004 and was carried out simultaneously in the households and health centres or hospital complex of Kavwaya, Sonabata and Kasangulu regions. Researches involved the circumstances of snakebites, symptoms observed and treatment chosen by the patients. The following results were obtained:--In the health centres and hospital complexes, out of a total of 293 recorded cases, mortality rose to 10.2%.--In the surveyed households, 82 cases of snakebites were recorded with 5% deaths and 27% who chose traditional medicine.--The distribution of the cases according to age showed that the incidence of the bites was weak in childhood (15%); the sex ratio was reversed between the health structures and the household survey.