Warning of poisonous snakes hiding in gardens and bushes in residential areas

After being bitten by a snake, the patient needs to be treated and given emergency care promptly at medical facilities.

Recently, the Emergency Department (Phu Tho General Hospital) received 3 cases of snake bites in Doan Hung, Thanh Ba districts and Viet Tri city. Among them, 2 cases were bitten by cobras. Patient VMT (55 years old, Dong Thanh, Thanh Ba) was bitten by a snake at his home at 9:00 p.m. and was admitted to the hospital at 11:18 p.m. on June 29 with swelling, pain, and bruising on the back of his left hand. Through the images provided by the family, the doctors examined and diagnosed "cobra bite in the 3rd hour" and prescribed 30 vials of antivenom.

The second patient, NVM (Doan Hung, Phu Tho), was also bitten by a cobra but had a more serious reaction. According to his family, after waking up at around 4:50 a.m. on July 2, the patient walked down the stairs and moved around in the bedroom and was bitten by a snake hiding under the cabinet. The patient was taken to the nearest medical center, but there was no specific medicine, so he was transferred to Phu Tho General Hospital in a state of necrosis of the instep of his right foot and was given 30 vials of antivenom serum. The third patient, NBN (35 years old, Viet Tri City), was bitten by a viper in his yard on July 2 and was immediately taken to the Emergency Department by his family. The patient was diagnosed with a viper bite and was given 10 vials of antivenom serum.

According to experts, snake bites in Vietnam are mainly caused by venomous snakes such as cobras, banded kraits, vipers, etc. Each snake species has its own characteristics in terms of venom toxicity. When bitten, the patient will have different symptoms depending on the snake species, the location of the bite, whether the snake is full or hungry, etc.

Dr. Ha Thi Bich Van, Head of the Emergency Department, said that since the end of 2021, Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital has implemented the treatment of venomous snake bites with antivenom serum for cobras and vipers. To date, nearly 100 cases of snake bites in the area have been treated promptly without having to be transferred to higher levels. “After being bitten by a snake, patients need to be treated and given emergency treatment promptly to limit the condition of limb necrosis, blood clotting disorders, blood infection, and even death. The most effective treatment for snake bites is antivenom serum. The best time is within the first 6 hours, however, it is still effective within the first 24 hours,” said Dr. Van.

LE DUY

Source