title: Local antivenom treatment for ophthalmic injuries caused by a Naja atra.
abstract: We report a case of local antivenom therapy for ocular exposure to the venom of Naja atra. An 83-year-old woman sustained conjunctival and corneal injuries by the venom of a spitting N. atra. Local instillation of N. naja antivenom quickly relieved the pain as measured by visual analog scale, and she recovered uneventfully. Good recovery ensuing topical antivenom administration for ocular exposure to the venom of spitting N. atra and Naja nigricollis has been described in literature, but the pain response was not thoroughly documented. The mechanism of antivenom for pain relief remains to be established. In light of the associated positive outcome observed in human, the role of ocular antivenom therapy merits further study.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Hin Tat
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Ka Keung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Oi Fung
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Tommy Shing Kit
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D017815:Elapidae; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009824:Ointments; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D009824:Ointments; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D011239:Prednisolone