Prague Med. Rep. 2015, 116, 314-320

https://doi.org/10.14712/23362936.2015.70

Snake Envenomation to the Face of a Child – Rare Case

Mustafa Şahan1, Mehmet Duru1, Koca Çalişkan1, Ali Karakuş1, Oğuzhan Özcan2, Ahmet Kahraman3, Güven Kuvandik1

1Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey
2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey
3Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey

Received June 29, 2015
Accepted November 16, 2015

Snakebites are seen in summer season in the southern part of Turkey, including Hatay province. In average of 40 patients with snakebites are admitted to our hospital every year. Viper is the most common venomous snakes in our region. Their hemotoxins and necrotoxins lead to local or systemic tissue damage and is responsible for the mortality and morbidity. In this report, we described a rare pediatric case, a six-year-old boy having been bitten on the left side of his face when he was looking around from their home’s balcony. The patient was orotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated because of airway obstruction due to severe edema. 12 flacon of anti-snake venom, mannitol infusion, fresh frozen plasma, erythrocytes suspension and antibiotherapy were administered to the patient. Seven days after the admission, clinical and laboratory findings were improved and the patient was discharged in a good condition. Snakebites inflicted on face and neck areas may cause rapidly progressive edema in respiratory tract and lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore early orotracheal intubation is very important to prevent mortality.

References

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