title: Blindness and scalp haematoma in a child following a snakebite.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Snake envenomation is a major public health problem of the Savannah regions of West Africa. Ocular manifestations of snakebites are rare with few reports documenting blindness as a complication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To highlight an unusual manifestation of snake bites and its attendant problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A report of scalp haematoma and blindness in a 10 year old child presenting 2 weeks after a snake bite (presumably carpet viper) is a rare manifestation. Local swelling, epistaxis, bilateral proptosis, exposure keratopathy and use of traditional eye medications were associated findings. Anti-venom though administered late saved the child's life but blindness could not be reversed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ocular ultrasonography revealed layered retrobulbar collection in the left eye, presumably due to hemorrhage. The skull x-ray showed a soft tissue swelling and aspirate from scalp swelling was bloody. Cranial Computed Tomography (CT) scan done late detected no abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Snakebite is associated with lifelong morbidity. Ocular manifestations must be treated as emergency. This case highlights the effect of ignorance and poverty in a setting of a common medical emergency leading to blindness and reduced quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oludolapo Sherifat
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Katibi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Feyiyemi Grace
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Adepoju
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Benedict Oluwasesan
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Olorunsola
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Samuel Kolade
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ernest
authors.affiliation: Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kehinde Fasasi
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Monsudi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D012535:Scalp; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D017819:Viperidae
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D012910:Snake Venoms
keywords: blindness; child; scalp haematoma; snakebite