Abstract

CESPEDES-VARGAS, Juan; BARCO-HUAYTA, Noelia Marcela  and  ARNEZ-AGUILAR, Marlene. OPHIDIC ACCIDENT CA USED BY RATTLESNAKE: APROPOS OFA CASE. Rev. Méd.-Cient. Luz Vida [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.1, pp. 68-71. ISSN 2219-8032.

The ophidian accident is caused by the bite of snakes that posses and inoculate toxic substances which injure tissues and cause pathophysiological changes in the victim. In South America there are about 12 species that can cause severe poisoning. Among these, Crotalus durissus, better known as rattlesnake, is responsible for the majority of deaths and snakebite accidents in South America. The patient's history, identification of the serpent, and clinical manifestations allow us to guide the diagnosis. For the treatment should be taken into account the time elapsed between the accident and the start of antivenom treatment, since the delay of this leads to medical complications. Now it is reported a case of rattlesnake bite in a rural community in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in which due to delay in the administration of antidote, the patient had proteolytic, nephrotoxic and neurotoxic complications. It is important to know the general measures facing a snake bite which is a medical emergency in several locations in our context.

Keywords : Snakebite accidents; Rattlesnake; Complications.