A study conducted by researchers at the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences of Rajarata University has suggested that poisonous snake bites and the agrochemical nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease that has rapidly spread over this area in the last two decades leading to high morbidity and mortality and associated with the extensive use of agrochemicals overlap.

Most of the epidemiological characteristics of these two conditions overlap, increasing the chances of co-occurrence, the study found.

The researchers presented four case studies in the "Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases" published today. All four patients in this study were male farmers, residing in the North Central Province.

These cases suggest the possibility of unusual manifestations of snakebite in patients with Sri Lankan agrochemical nephropathy, of which the clinicians should be aware. (ST/KH)