Local antivenom treatment for ophthalmic injuries caused by a Naja atra.
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.
Fung
Hin Tat
HT
Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Lam
Ka Keung
KK
Wong
Oi Fung
OF
Lam
Tommy Shing Kit
TS
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D009824:Ointments; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D011239:Prednisolone