Phytotherapic measures adopted as an emergency alternative for snakebites in the hinterland of Alagoas

Abstract

Accidents by venomous animals in Brazil are frequent and constitute a serious public health problem. Among the main accidents is snakebites, due to its frequency and severity. In this scenario, popular practices, such as the use of medicinal plants, are used in cases of snakebites. Medicinal plants are the most commonly alternative resources used in these practices, being applied both as a complement to serotherapy and as an alternative medicinal measure when there is no access to serotherapy. In this context, the aim was to investigate the emergency phytotherapeutic measures adopted in cases of accidents caused by snakes, as well as to draw up the epidemiological profile of the victims of these accidents. This is a qualitative and descriptive study, carried out in the city of Olho D'água das Flores and developed in the period of 2016 and 2017. The snowball method was adopted and the interviewees were selected according to the criteria of age 18 or older, and were residents of the region who had information about cases of snakebites. For data collection, semi-structured questionnaires were applied to those interviewees who had their participation conditional upon signing a TCLE. The data collected were recorded in the Microsoft Excel 2010 program for later analysis and production of charts and tables. A total of 68 snakebites cases were recorded, the most of the victims were men (57.35%; n= 39). The age group predominantly was 38 to 78 years (59%; n=41). The most of the interviewees also did not have complete schooling (39.7%; n=27) and the place of the greatest occurrence of accidents was the working environment (86.77%; n=59). Concerning the emergency measures taken 70.6% (n=57) did not have medical attention, 73.53% (n=50) used medicinal plants, the leaf (11.76%; n=8) was the most used part and the compress (29.41%; n= 20) the most reported form of preparation. The plants have medicinal potential due to the presence of metabolites and active principles that give them curative properties. Although, many plants do not have proven antiofidic potential in the scientific literature, they can contribute to the evolution in the clinical picture of individuals who was victims of snakebites. However, even with positive effects, it is important to emphasize that this practice does not replace the need for the use of the snake antivenom. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the importance of studies with the purpose of investigating the possible antiofidic properties in plants so that they should act in a complementary way in the treatment of these accidents.