Two women suffered blood clotting disorders after being attacked by a red-tailed pit viper.

Information from Xuyen A General Hospital in Tay Ninh indicates that the hospital's Emergency Department recently received two cases of unexpected attacks by red-tailed pit vipers while gardening.

Specifically, the first case involved a 46-year-old female patient (residing in Trang Bang, Tay Ninh) who was gardening when she was bitten on the finger by a red-tailed pit viper. Her family quickly took her to the hospital for emergency treatment.

The shape of a red-tailed pit viper. (Illustrative image).

About an hour later, another patient, a 56-year-old woman (also residing in Trang Bang, Tay Ninh), was brought to the emergency room by her family with similar symptoms: she was gardening when she was bitten by a red-tailed pit viper, causing swelling of the finger joints and the back of her right hand.

Immediately after clinical examination and necessary tests, both patients were indicated for the administration of snake antivenom.

Two vials of antivenom were used to save two patients bitten by snakes. (Photo courtesy of BSCC).

Currently, after receiving serum injections and monitoring for coagulation disorders, electrolyte imbalances, and acute liver and kidney damage in the General Internal Medicine Department, both patients have stabilized and were discharged after 5 days of treatment. Fortunately, both patients were admitted to the emergency room in time and received successful treatment.

According to Dr. Ho Ngoc Viet, Head of the General Internal Medicine Department at Xuyen A General Hospital in Tay Ninh, the red-tailed pit viper belongs to the pit viper group, and its venom can cause muscle damage or necrosis, kidney failure, and blood clotting disorders – meaning it makes victims more prone to bleeding and less likely to clot blood.

Based on the two cases above, doctors advise people that when bitten by a snake, they should quickly take the victim to the nearest medical facility capable of intensive care and with sufficient antivenom for transfusion, as antivenom is best administered within the first 4 hours after being bitten.

If treatment is delayed or neglected, after about 6 to 12 hours, the snakebite site will begin to swell and become edematous. If not treated promptly, the patient will soon experience blood clotting disorders, severe bleeding, and may even die.

Le Trang

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/2-phu-nu-bi-roi-loan-dong-mau-do-ran-luc-duoi-do-tan-cong-post265404.html