[Ophidian envenomation in the region Souss-Massa-Drâa in Morocco].

The present study aims to determine the main characteristics of ophidian envenomation in the Souss-Massa-Drâa region in Morocco. It consisted of a descriptive retrospective analysis of all snakebite cases recorded by the Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center, from 1980 to 2008. According to reported data, this region is the most affected in Morocco with 479 cases, that is 27.6% (17 cases/year). The average age of victims was 26.07 ± 18.28 years. The patients developed clinical signs (55%) dominated by disorders of the digestive system (35.5%), cardiovascular diseases (21.4%), and heart rhythm disorders (16.8%). The lethality and sequelae rates were 12% and 1.9%, respectively.