Snake bite – a potentially serious condition

• Autor(a) principal: Marta, Maria João
• Data de Publicação: 2005
• Outros Autores: Santos Silva, João, Oliveira, Anabela, Saavedra, J. A.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://revista.spmi.pt/index.php/rpmi/article/view/1693
• topic: Mordedura de víbora; Vipera latastei; complicações; terapêutica; Bite of venomous snake; Vipera latastei; complications; treatment

The number of snakebite victims in Europe is small when compared to tropical countries. In Portugal there are two species of snakes - Vipera seoanei and Vipera latastei, which may be found in Gerês, Monchique, Amarela and Sintra mountains, Guadiana valley and Mafra.In this article, the authors present the clinical case of a 26-year old man who was bitten by a snake on his right hand while on holiday in the Gerês mountains. On admission he had bite marks of moderate to severe gravity – the upper right limb was extremely swollen, bruised and a haemorrhagic blister was present on the hand. Laboratory abnormalities suggesting acute renal injury, rhabdomyolisis and a consumptive coagulopathy were detected. The time period from snake-bite to treatment surpassed the period for anti-venom administration. The patient was treated conservatively, showed clinical and laboratory improvement and was discharged from hospital ten days later. The difference between venomous snakes and inoffensive ones, as well as the complications of snake bite, treatment and indications for anti-venom are discussed.