title: [Adder bites in Norway--occurrence and treatment].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adder bites rarely cause severe reactions and when they occur there are specific antivenoms with few side effects that may be used in addition to supportive therapy. The antivenom is manufactured from sheep and consists of Fab fragments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998 and 2002 there were 245 registered calls regarding adder bites to the Norwegian National Poisons Information Centre. We present three patients with adder bites treated with antivenom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The National Poisons Information Centre had 245 inquiries about adder bites over a five-year period. In 12% of cases the risk of intoxication was considered to be non-existent. Risk of or established mild to moderate reactions were found in 67%; 13% were considered to be in danger of severe reactions; the remaining 8% were unclassified. In severe adder bites, antivenom therapy has documented effect.
authors.affiliation: Akuttmedisinsk avdeling, Medisinsk divisjon, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo. rune.aakvik@ulleval.no
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aakvik
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Refstad
authors.forename: Lise G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ringstad
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects; D017819:Viperidae
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D014757:Viper Venoms