Editing Snakebite (section)

== Epidemiology ==
{{Main|Epidemiology of snakebites}}
{{see also|List of fatal snake bites in the United States|List of fatal snake bites in Australia}}
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| image1            = World distribution of snakes.svg
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| caption1          = Map showing the approximate world distribution of snakes
| caption2          = Map showing the global distribution of snakebite morbidity
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Earlier estimates for snakebite vary from 1.2 to 5.5&nbsp;million, with 421,000 to 2.5&nbsp;million being envenomings, and causing 20,000 to 125,000 deaths.<ref name=WHO2015/><ref name=Kast2008/> More recent modelling estimates that in 2019, about 63,400 people died globally from snakebite, with 51,100 of these deaths happening in India.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=Nicholas L. S. |last2=Johnson |first2=Emily K. |last3=Zeng |first3=Scott M. |last4=Hamilton |first4=Erin B. |last5=Abdoli |first5=Amir |last6=Alahdab |first6=Fares |last7=Alipour |first7=Vahid |last8=Ancuceanu |first8=Robert |last9=Andrei |first9=Catalina Liliana |last10=Anvari |first10=Davood |last11=Arabloo |first11=Jalal |last12=Ausloos |first12=Marcel |last13=Awedew |first13=Atalel Fentahun |last14=Badiye |first14=Ashish D. |last15=Bakkannavar |first15=Shankar M. |date=2022-10-25 |title=Global mortality of snakebite envenoming between 1990 and 2019 |journal=Nature Communications |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |page=6160 |doi=10.1038/s41467-022-33627-9 |pmid=36284094 |pmc=9596405 |bibcode=2022NatCo..13.6160G |s2cid=253111038 |issn=2041-1723}}</ref>  Since reporting is not mandatory in much of the world, the data on the frequency of snakebites is not precise.<ref name=Kast2008/> Many people who survive bites have permanent tissue damage caused by venom, leading to disability.<ref name="Gutierrez2007" /> Most snake envenomings and fatalities occur in [[South Asia]], [[Southeast Asia]], and [[sub-Saharan Africa]], with [[India]] reporting the most snakebite deaths of any country.<ref name=Kast2008/> Available evidence on the effect of climate change on the epidemiology of snakebite is limited but it is expected that there will be a geographic shift in the risk of snakebite: northwards in North America and southwards in South America and Mozambique, and increase in the incidence of bite in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bhaumik |first1=Soumyadeep |last2=Beri |first2=Deepti |last3=Jagnoor |first3=Jagnoor |date=October 2022 |title=The impact of climate change on the burden of snakebite: Evidence synthesis and implications for primary healthcare |journal=Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |language=en-US |volume=11 |issue=10 |pages=6147–6158 |doi=10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_677_22 |pmid=36618235 |pmc=9810950 |s2cid=253452433 |issn=2249-4863 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Most snakebites are caused by non-venomous snakes. Of the roughly 3,000 known species of snake found worldwide, only 15% are considered dangerous to humans.<ref name="Gold2002"/><ref name=Kast2008/> Snakes are found on every continent except [[Antarctica]].<ref name=Kast2008/> The most diverse and widely distributed snake family, the [[colubrid]]s, has approximately 700 venomous species,<ref name="Mackessy2002">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mackessy SP |s2cid=86568032 |year=2002 |title=Biochemistry and pharmacology of colubrid snake venoms |journal=Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews |volume=21 |issue=1–2 |pages=43–83 |doi=10.1081/TXR-120004741 |url=http://www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/faculty_staff/mackessy/colubrid.pdf |access-date=26 September 2009 |quote=Estimates of the number of venomous colubrids approach 700 species. Most may not produce a venom capable of causing serious damage to humans, but at least five species (''Dispholidus typus'', ''Thelotornis capensis'', ''Rhabdophis tigrinus'', ''Philodryas olfersii'' and ''Tachymenis peruviana'') have caused human fatalities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602041516/http://www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/faculty_staff/mackessy/colubrid.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2010 |citeseerx=10.1.1.596.5081}}</ref> but only five [[genera]]—[[boomslang]]s, [[Thelotornis|twig snakes]], [[Rhabdophis|keelback snakes]], [[Philodryas|green snakes]], and [[Tachymenis|slender snakes]]—have caused human fatalities.<ref name="Mackessy2002" />

Worldwide, snakebites occur most frequently in the summer season when snakes are active and humans are outdoors.<ref name=Kast2008/><ref name="WingertChan1988">{{cite journal | vauthors = Wingert WA, Chan L | title = Rattlesnake bites in southern California and rationale for recommended treatment | journal = The Western Journal of Medicine | volume = 148 | issue = 1 | pages = 37–44 | date = January 1988 | pmid = 3277335 | pmc = 1026007}}</ref> Agricultural and tropical regions report more snakebites than anywhere else.<ref name=Kast2008/><ref name="Gutierrez2006"/> In the United States, those bitten are typically male and between 17 and 27 years of age.<ref name="Gold2002" /><ref name="WingertChan1988" /><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Parrish HM | title = Incidence of treated snakebites in the United States | journal = Public Health Reports | volume = 81 | issue = 3 | pages = 269–276 | date = March 1966 | pmid = 4956000 | pmc = 1919692 | doi = 10.2307/4592691 | jstor = 4592691}}</ref> Children and the elderly are the most likely to die.<ref name="Gold2002" /><ref name="Gold1994">{{cite journal | vauthors = Gold BS, Wingert WA | title = Snake venom poisoning in the United States: a review of therapeutic practice | journal = Southern Medical Journal | volume = 87 | issue = 6 | pages = 579–589 | date = June 1994 | pmid = 8202764 | doi = 10.1097/00007611-199406000-00001 | s2cid = 37771848}}</ref>