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released: 29 May 2008 author: Bradley C media release

This report describes the bites and stings due to contact with venomous animals and plants that resulted in a separation from an Australian hospital in the period 1st July 2002 to 30th June 2005. Analyses of bite and sting cases over time (1999-05) are also presented.Hospitalised bites and stings were most frequently attributed to spiders, bees and wasps while snakebites were a less frequent cause of hospitalisation. Higher rates of serious bites and stings were generally observed for males and for younger people. Little change in the rate of hospitalised bites and stings was noted over time. This report demonstrates that changes made to the ICD-10-AM classification system from 1st July 2002 have greatly improved the specificity and utility of hospitalised bite and sting data.

ISSN 1444-3791; ISBN 978 1 74024 771 9; Cat. no. INJCAT 110; 104pp.; Out of print

Full publication

Publication table of contents

  • Preliminary material
    • Title and verso pages
    • Contents
    • Acknowledgements
    • Executive summary
      • Types of venomous bite and sting cases 2002-05
        • Factors associated with bite and sting cases 2002-05
      • Trends in hospitalised bites and stings 1999-05
  • Body section
    1. Introduction
      • 1.1 Venomous bites and stings 2002-05
        • 1.1.1 Age and sex distribution
        • 1.1.2 Cases by state of usual residence
        • 1.1.3 Cases by remoteness of usual residence
        • 1.1.4 Types of bite and sting cases
        • 1.1.5 Principal diagnosis for bite and sting cases
        • 1.1.6 Procedures listed for bite and sting cases
        • 1.1.7 Place of occurrence for bite and sting cases
        • 1.1.8 Activity for bite and sting cases
        • 1.1.9 Length of stay for bite and sting cases
        • 1.1.10 Mode of separation for incident cases
      • 1.2 Hospitalised bite and sting trends 1999-05
        • 1.2.1 State and territory trends
        • 1.2.2 Remoteness trends
    2. Snakes
      • 2.1 Cases by type of snake, 2002-05
      • 2.2 Principal diagnosis for snakebites
      • 2.3 Place and activity for snakebites
      • 2.4 Length of stay for snakebite cases
      • 2.5 Trends in rates of hospitalised snakebites
    3. Spiders
      • 3.1 Cases by type of spider
      • 3.2 Principal diagnosis for spider bites
      • 3.3 Place and activity for spider bites
      • 3.4 Length of stay for spider bites
      • 3.5 Trends in rates of hospitalised spider bites
    4. Wasps and bees
      • 4.1 Cases attributed to wasps
        • 4.1.1 Place and activity for wasp stings
        • 4.1.2 Principal diagnosis for wasp stings
        • 4.1.3 Cases by type of wasp, 2004-05
        • 4.1.4 Length of stay for wasp stings
      • 4.2 Cases attributed to bees
        • 4.2.1 Place and activity for bee stings
        • 4.2.2 Principal diagnosis for bee stings
        • 4.2.3 Cases by type of bee, 2004-05
        • 4.2.4 Length of stay for bee stings
      • 4.3 Trends in rates of hospitalised wasp and beestings
    5. Ants and other arthropods
      • 5.1 Contact with venomous ants
        • 5.1.1 Cases by type of ants
        • 5.1.2 Principal diagnosis for ant stings
        • 5.1.3 Place and activity for ant sting cases
        • 5.1.4 Length of stay for ant sting cases
      • 5.2 Contact with venomous ticks
        • 5.2.1 Principal diagnosis for tick bites
      • 5.3 Trends in rates of hospitalised cases due to ants and other arthropods
    6. Marine animals and plants
      • 6.1 Types of venomous marine bites and stings
      • 6.2 Principal diagnosis for marine bites and stings
      • 6.3 Place and activity for marine bites and stings
      • 6.4 Length of stay for marine bites and stings
      • 6.5 Trends in rates of hospitalised marine bites and stings
    7. Other venomous animals and plants (X22, X24, X27, X28 or X29)
      • 7.1 Cases attributed to other venomous animals and plants, 2002-05
      • 7.2 Trends in rates of hospitalised cases attributed to other venomous animals and plants
    8. Discussion
      • 8.1 Types of hospitalised bites and stings
      • 8.2 The circumstances of venomous bites and stings
      • 8.3 Trends in bites and stings over time
    9. Data issues
      • Data sources
      • Selection criteria
      • Rate calculation
      • Small case count issues
    10. References
  • End matter
    • List of tables
    • List of figures

Recommended citation

Bradley C 2008. Venomous bites and stings in Australia to 2005. Injury research and statistics series. 40. Cat. no. INJCAT 110. Canberra: AIHW.