Spotted black snake (Pseudechis guttatus) envenoming.
We report two cases of spotted black snake (Pseudechis guttatus) envenoming. One patient experienced localised burning pain around the bite and developed nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, upper abdominal cramping and diaphoresis. He was treated with intravenous fluids and antiemetics, but no antivenom, and was discharged 23 hours after the bite. The second patient developed a severe headache, blurred vision and mild nausea, associated with severe pain and swelling of the bitten limb that took 4 days to resolve. No antivenom was given and the patient had no sequelae. Neither patient developed significant coagulopathy, myolysis or neuromuscular paralysis. Bites by this species appear to cause effects similar to those of the more common red-bellied black snake (P. porphyriacus).
Jansen
Melanie
M
School of Medical Practice and Population Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. gsbite@ferntree.com
McLeod
Monique
M
White
Julian
J
Isbister
Geoffrey K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D017815:Elapidae; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*