Mortality due to snakebite envenomation in Costa Rica (1993–2006)

The mortality due to snakebite envenomation in Costa Rica for the period 1993–2006 was investigated by a retrospective analysis. There were 48 fatalities due to snakebites during this period. Mortality rates ranged from 0.02 per 100,000 population in 2006 to 0.19 per 100,000 population in 1993. Case fatality rates in the period 1993–2000 ranged between 0.18% (2000) and 1.15% (1993). The highest numbers of fatal cases occurred in the provinces of Puntarenas and Limón, in low-land humid regions where the species Bothrops asper (‘terciopelo’) is distributed and agricultural activities predominate. The most affected age groups were those of 20–29, 40–49 and 50–59 years, and fatal cases predominated in males over females by a ratio of 5:1.