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Abstract
Among forest-dwelling Amazonian Indians and rubber tappers (seringueiros) of the Juruá
valley in Acre State, north-western Brazil, snakebite is an important cause of morbidity
and death. Overall, 13% of a surveyed population had been bitten during their lifetime.
Seventeen per cent of Katukina Indians, but only 8% of Ashaninkas, had been bitten
by snakes reflecting, perhaps, different levels of traditional knowledge of the forest
and its dangers. Most bites occurred in the jungle or on jungle trails (56%), while
people were working (41%) or walking (26%), and were inflicted on the feet (54%).
Ninety per cent of bite victims received treatment, usually traditional (93%); the
majority (80%) recovered fully. Mortality was estimated at about 400 deaths per 100,000
population per lifetime. Bites and stings from other venomous forest and river animals,
especially the freshwater sting ray (Potamotrygon sp.), were also extremely common.
One death from an ant bite was recorded.