On June 20, a 23-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl living in the same house experienced sudden sharp pain in their feet while sleeping. They were rushed to Bac Giang General Hospital with symptoms of difficulty breathing, drooping eyelids, weak limbs, and loss of reflexes. The venomous snake responsible for the bites was identified as a garter snake, leading to complete muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, quadriplegia, and dilated pupils in the female patient.
The severity of the female patient’s condition was disclosed by Dr. Nguyen Thi Hieu, Deputy Head of the Department of Intensive Care – Poison Control. The patients were intubated, mechanically ventilated, and received hemodialysis to eliminate toxins. Fortunately, after several dialysis sessions, the muscle paralysis improved and both patients were weaned off the ventilator and discharged from the hospital in stable condition.
Dr. Hieu emphasized the importance of prompt treatment for garter snake bites as they can lead to severe complications or even death if not treated quickly. Scorpions are similar to cobras and have blue-black skin with distinct black and white markings; they are also venomous and can cause neurotoxicity resulting in symptoms like drooping eyelids and difficulty breathing.
It is crucial to remain calm during a snake bite incident, clean the wound properly, immobilize the limb below heart level, seek immediate medical attention without delaying treatment. Avoiding methods like cutting into skin or squeezing on bite site will help prevent infection or bleeding risks while providing information about snakes or bringing them to hospitals for identification may aid in receiving appropriate anti-snake venom treatment that will save lives.
In conclusion, snake bites should be taken seriously as they can result in severe complications or even death if not treated promptly. It is important to know how to handle these situations properly by remaining calm
