2 women suffer blood clotting disorders after red-tailed green pit viper attack

Information from Xuyen A Tay Ninh General Hospital said that recently the hospital's Emergency Department received two cases at the same time that were unexpectedly attacked by a red-tailed green pit viper while gardening.

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

2 women suffered hemorrhaging due to being attacked by a snake in the river, photo 1 — Shape of red-tailed green pit viper. (Illustration).

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

Immediately after clinical examination and necessary tests, both patients were prescribed anti-snake venom serum.

2 women suffered hemorrhaging due to being attacked by a snake, photo 2 — Two vials of serum were used to save two patients bitten by snakes. (Photo by BSCC).

Currently, after being injected with serum and monitored for blood clotting disorders, electrolyte disorders, and acute liver and kidney damage at the General Internal Medicine Department, both patients have stabilized and have been discharged after 5 days of treatment. Fortunately, both patients were admitted to the emergency room in time and were successfully treated.

Specialist Doctor Ho Ngoc Viet, Head of the Department of General Internal Medicine, Xuyen A Tay Ninh General Hospital, said that the red-tailed green pit viper belongs to the group of vipers, and the venom of the red-tailed green pit viper can cause muscle damage or necrosis, kidney failure, and blood clotting disorders - that is, making the victim more susceptible to bleeding and less likely to clot.

From the two cases above, doctors recommend that people who are bitten by snakes should quickly take the victim to the nearest medical facility that can provide intensive resuscitation and has enough antivenom serum to transfuse, because antivenom serum should be transfused best within the first 4 hours after being bitten by a snake.

If left untreated, after about 6 to 12 hours, the snake bite site will begin to swell and become edematous. If not treated promptly, the patient will soon suffer from blood clotting disorders, severe bleeding, and possibly death.

Le Trang

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