Prioritising snakebite in the child and adolescent health agenda.

In recognition of its public health burden, WHO designated snakebite envenoming (the clinical condition caused by the effects of venom from a venomous snake on a human being) as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) in 2017. It is estimated that almost 80% of all deaths caused by snakebite occur in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where snakebite primarily affects rural, agricultural, and indigenous communities. Moreover, children, adolescents, and young adults in these regions are the populations most affected by snakebite. 15 years ago, the 2008 World Child Injury Report already recognised snakebite as an important cause of death in children, yet it continues to be neglected by the global child and adolescent health community.