title: Risks to infants on Guam from bites of the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis).
abstract: The brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, is abundant on Guam and commonly invades human habitations. Data on emergency room visits on Guam document a high frequency of snakebites on Guam. Over 50% of the emergency room visits for snakebite involved children less than 4 years old. Records exist of 4 infants, 1, 2, 5, and 10 months old, who displayed significant symptoms after being bitten, while sleeping, by snakes. Two infants developed respiratory problems within a few hours and required medical treatment for asphyxiation. Lethargy, diminished sensory perceptions, drooping eyelids, swelling, discoloration, and bleb formation were variable in occurrence in the patients.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Fritts
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McCoid
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Haddock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006141:Guam / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000453:epidemiology