Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi, cilt.82, sa.3, ss.427-440, 2025 (Scopus)
Objective: Poisoning due to snake bites and scorpion stings is important public health problem. Determining the current situation in this regard is very important for future planning. The aim of this study is to make descriptive epidemiological assessment of snake bites and scorpion stings and the amount of antivenom used in Turkey between 2015-2021 by province. Methods: The data on snake bites and scorpion stings for the years 2015-2020 were requested from the Provincial Health Directorates of the Ministry of Health, Public Health Presidencies, responses were received from 75 provinces, data from 38 provinces that met the required standards were evaluated. Antivenom use data for the years 2016-2021 were obtained from the Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Public Health, Department of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Logistics Unit. The frequency of use for the provinces was calculated using the Turkish Statistical Institute AddressBased Population Registration System (TSI ABPRS) populations. Number and frequency of antivenom use in the provinces were visualized with the mapping program. Results: According to data collected from 38 provinces in Turkey, 2,486 snake bites and 30,769 scorpion stings occurred between 2015 and 2020. Among the 38 provinces evaluated, the provinces with the highest number of snake bites were Adana, Mersin and Hatay, respectively, while the top three in scorpion bites were Adana, Malatya and Mersin. The three provinces with the highest bite rates were Iğdır, Elazığ, Sinop and for scorpion bites, Iğdır, Van, Niğde, respectively. 22.7% of snake bite cases occurred in 2019, 20.3% of scorpion sting cases occurred in 2019. Antivenom application was found to be 79.0% for snake bites and 49.2% for scorpion bites. The provinces with the highest number of snake, scorpion antivenom use are located in the Southeastern Anatolia and Mediterranean regions. More than 50% of snake and scorpion antivenom use occurred in summer season. The three provinces with the highest antivenom use rates are Kilis, Muğla, Diyarbakır for snakes and Kırıkkale, Aydın, Çankırı for scorpions, respectively. Highest number of scorpion stings, serum use is seen in August, in snake bites in July. Data deficiencies, non-standard data entries are striking, especially in bite data collected from provinces. Conclusion: Snake bites, scorpion sting cases are concentrated in the Southeast, Mediterranean, Aegean Regions, especially during summer months. In order to closely monitor and regularly evaluate all snake bites, scorpion stings, case registration system should be developed that includes descriptive characteristics of the cases as well as information on the application of antivenom, antiserum, and the location of exposure.