Electrocardiography patterns of snake envenomations

Abstract

Snakebite envenomation constitutes a neglected tropical disease of public health importance. This is evident by over five million persons per year especially young farmers being bitten by snakes in rural areas. Hence, equally making snakebites an occupational disease. Snake envenomation leads to several toxic syndromes including cardiac toxicity. The latter may lead to potentially fatal effects on the heart´s electrical conductivity resulting in lethal cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions, heart failure and talk less of cardiac arrest which have been less described. This article aims to describe the electrocardiography dysfunctions caused by snake envenomation to improve the management of snake envenomed patients through early detection, treatment and management of these snake envenomation electrocardiography-related complications.