title: Snake Envenomation to the Face of a Child--Rare Case.
abstract: Snakebites are seen in summer season in the southern part of Turkey, including Hatay province. In average of 40 patients with snakebites are admitted to our hospital every year. Viper is the most common venomous snakes in our region. Their hemotoxins and necrotoxins lead to local or systemic tissue damage and is responsible for the mortality and morbidity. In this report, we described a rare pediatric case, a six-year-old boy having been bitten on the left side of his face when he was looking around from their home's balcony. The patient was orotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated because of airway obstruction due to severe edema. 12 flacon of anti-snake venom, mannitol infusion, fresh frozen plasma, erythrocytes suspension and antibiotherapy were administered to the patient. Seven days after the admission, clinical and laboratory findings were improved and the patient was discharged in a good condition. Snakebites inflicted on face and neck areas may cause rapidly progressive edema in respiratory tract and lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore early orotracheal intubation is very important to prevent mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Şahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duru
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Koca
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Çalişkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey. drkarakus@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karakuş
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oğuzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Özcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güven
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuvandik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D017839:Crotalus; D005145:Face; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins
keywords: Antivenom; Intubation; Pediatric case; Snakebite