TY - JOUR
PY - 2012//
TI - Vipera berus bites in Eastern Poland - a retrospective analysis of 15 case studies
JO - Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine
A1 - Garkowski, Adam
A1 - Czupryna, Piotr
A1 - Zajkowska, Agata
A1 - Pancewicz, Sławomir
A1 - Moniuszko, Anna
A1 - Kondrusik, Maciej
A1 - Grygorczuk, Sambor
A1 - Gołębicki, Paweł
A1 - Letmanowski, Michał
A1 - Zajkowska, Joanna
SP - 793
EP - 797
VL - 19
IS - 4
N2 - Introduction and objective: The common European adder (Vipera berus) is the only venomous snake that is found naturally in Poland. This study presents the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of V.berus bites in Eastern Poland and describes the methods of poisoning treatment. Materials and methods: Medical documentation of 15 patients hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections of the Medical University of Bialystok between 1998-2010 because of V.berus bite was analyzed retrospectively. Results: Most of the snakebites were accidental (86.7% of the cases). The bites usually took place in forests (66.7% of the cases). The majority of patients were bitten in the lower extremity (8 cases, 53.3%), most often in the area of ankle joint. The severity of poisoning was usually minor to moderate. The most common local symptom was oedema (93.3% of the cases) and associated extravasations (73.3% of the cases). One patient experienced shock. Transient hypertension was observed in 3 cases. Mild coagulation disorders were present in 4 cases. In 4 cases, leukocytosis was observed. 86.7% of patients received the specific antivenom. No fatal outcome and no adverse reactions after antivenom administration were reported. Conclusions: In the majority cases of poisoning with V.berus venom, the poisoning takes a mild course, limited to local oedema, but sometimes it may lead to severe complications. The only specific method of the treatment is antivenom administration. Language: en
LA - en
SN - 1232-1966
UR - http://dx.doi.org/
ID - ref1
ER -