Two cases of viper bite: still an important health problem

Authors

  • Adrija Hajra Department of Medicine, IPGMER, Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Dhrubajyoti Bandyopadhyay Department of Emergency Medicine, LHMC, Delhi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160824

Keywords:

Snake bite, Viper, Pancreatitis, Acute renal failure, Necrosis

Abstract

Viper venoms act mainly as hemotoxic. Manifestations of snakebites depend on specific toxins that constitute the venom. The local and systemic snake bite related symptoms are directly linked to the toxicity of the venom. Edema, ecchymoses, hematoma, and gangrenous lesions are reported to occur as local symptoms. Systemic symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, delirium, jaundice, circulatory collapse, convulsions, and coma. Death from secondary infections, neurotoxicity, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), intracranial hemorrhage, and acute renal failure are the well-known facts. For reduction of morbidity and mortality, it is important that antiserum is administered at the appropriate dose as early as possible after snake bite. There are several case reports about various complications of viperid bite. Here we are discussing two cases of viper bite. These cases are unique because of the extensive tissue necrosis. One of them succumbed to septicemia after acute pancreatitis.

References

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Majumder A, Sinha A, Bhattacharya SK, Ram R, Dasgupta U, Ram A. Epidemiological Profile of Snake Bite in South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal with Focus on Underreporting of Snake Bite Deaths. Indian Journal of Public Health. 2014;58(1):17-21.

Balaji G, Kumar A, Menon J. Snake bite induced cellulitis leading to infected open dislocation of the first metacarpophalangeal joint-A rare complication. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2015;6(3):195-8.

Lakhotia M, Kothari D, Choudhary DR, Sharma S, Jain P. A Case of Saw Scale Viper Snakebite Presenting as Pleuro-pericardial Haemorrhage. JIACM. 2002;3(4):392-4.

Malkarnekar S, Naveen L. A rare case of acute pancreatitis following snake envenomation with fatal outcome. Trop J Med Res. 2014;17(2):137-9.

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Published

2016-12-28

How to Cite

Hajra, A., & Bandyopadhyay, D. (2016). Two cases of viper bite: still an important health problem. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 4(4), 1274–1277. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160824

Issue

Section

Case Reports