3 year old boy bitten by snake while sleeping on the floor

A 3-year-old boy (in Nghe An) was transferred to the National Children's Hospital ( Hanoi ) for emergency treatment in a state of drooping eyelids, dilated pupils on both sides, difficulty speaking, and quadriplegia...

The patient's family said that while the boy was sleeping on the floor, he was bitten on the right hand by a black and white striped snake. After discovering that the child had been bitten by a snake , the family took the child to a local herbalist to apply a medicinal herb.

Bé trai 3 tuổi bị rắn cắn khi ngủ dưới nền nhà - Ảnh 1.

Children hospitalized due to snake bite

About 1 hour later, the child had drooping eyelids, dilated pupils on both sides, difficulty speaking, quadriplegia, and progressive respiratory muscle paralysis. After being taken to the local hospital for emergency treatment and intubation, the child was transferred to the National Children's Hospital.

Through the photo of the snake taken on the phone provided by the family, the doctor determined that the child was bitten by a northern krait. This is one of the most venomous snakes, directly threatening the victim's life.

Meanwhile, anti-krait venom serum is not currently produced in Vietnam, and its supply depends on foreign countries, and is often scarce, lacking, or non-existent.

Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) only has monovalent antivenom serum for Southern krait snakes (used to neutralize the venom of Southern krait snakes, not effective on Northern krait snakes) and polyvalent antivenom serum (effective for common kraits, king cobras, and cobras).

Bé trai 3 tuổi bị rắn cắn khi ngủ dưới nền nhà - Ảnh 3.

Image of the krait provided by the family

Doctor Tran Thi My Hanh, Department of Internal Medicine Intensive Care at the National Children's Hospital, said that doctors have made great efforts to contact hospitals in the country and abroad to find a source of antivenom serum for the Northern krait.

After receiving the medicine, the child was transfused with 10 vials of polyvalent antivenom serum. On August 10, after more than 2 weeks of intensive treatment, the child was awake, had many spontaneous breathing rhythms, could perform movements on request, and had normal EEG results. It is expected that the child will be able to be taken off the ventilator in the next few days.

In addition to the above case, the National Children's Hospital also admitted a 2-year-old patient (in Tuyen Quang ) who was also bitten by a snake while sleeping. Knowing that it was a venomous snake, the family took the patient to a traditional healer to get medicine to apply. After 1 day, the child's foot was swollen, necrosis spread to the thigh, and the whole body was convulsing, so the family took the child to the emergency room.

Bé trai 3 tuổi bị rắn cắn khi ngủ dưới nền nhà - Ảnh 4.

Child patient bitten by cobra leading to respiratory failure, circulatory failure, coma

Upon admission to the provincial general hospital, the child had respiratory failure, circulatory failure, coma, and respiratory muscle paralysis, requiring transfer to a higher level. About 36 hours after being bitten by the snake, the patient was admitted to the National Children's Hospital, with a very serious prognosis.

Based on the characteristics of the snake bite and the injury, the doctor directed the child to be bitten by a cobra. That same night, the child was given 40 vials of anti-cobra venom serum and a ventilator, and had surgery to open the fascia of the left foot. The child was also given intravenous fluids, diuretics, and prevention of complications of acute kidney failure.

After 4 days of treatment, the patient had his endotracheal tube removed, was alert, had fully recovered his muscle strength, and his left foot was less swollen and he could move well. However, the big toe on his left foot that was bitten by the snake had become dry and necrotic, and would likely have to be amputated.

Source