Venomous bites and stings in Australia to 2005

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