Snakebite cases increased in Khuzestan Province from 2020 to 2024

Researchers used registry and hospital records to describe 787 snakebite envenomation cases admitted to Razi and Abuzar referral hospitals in Khuzestan Province between 2020 and 2024. The retrospective descriptive study examined demographic and clinical characteristics, temporal trends and the geographic distribution of patients by county of residence.

Recorded cases showed an increasing trend. Men accounted for 78.5% of cases, rural residents for 67.7%, and people aged 31–50 years for 42.1%. Summer had the largest share of cases (42.2%). Bites most commonly affected the lower extremities (44.6%); pain and swelling were reported in 73.0%. Most patients (90.7%) received 1–5 vials of antivenom. No deaths were reported, and all patients were recorded as having recovered. Ahvaz and Shadegan had the highest caseloads by patients’ county of residence.

The findings identify groups and locations that may inform local prevention and service planning. They describe cases admitted to two referral hospitals, however, and may not represent all snakebites in the province. The study reports recorded case trends and does not establish their causes.