Snakebites in children: also a European occurrence

Abstract

The authors thank Paolino et al. for highlighting the omission of six qualifying studies from Europe in their original meta-analysis333. Upon inclusion of these six studies, the estimated case fatality rate (CFR) for the total of 41 reanalyzed studies becomes $1.91%$4. The authors confirm that while the additional studies highlight the problem of SBE in European children, their inclusion does not alter the main findings regarding the comparison of outcomes between children and adults5555. The correspondence re-emphasizes that their derived burden and mortality for sub-Saharan Africa assumed that all patients accessed effective antivenom therapy6.