Berg adder (Bitis atropos) : an unusual case of acute poisoning
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
A 5-year-old boy presented to hospital with mild local cytotoxic and severe neurotoxic symptoms. The neurotoxic symptoms included ptosis, fixed dilated pupils and flaccid paralysis with respiratory failure. Mild hyponatraemia was also a clinical feature. After various unsuccessful treatment options were followed, the Tygerberg Poison Information Centre was contacted and a diagnosis of berg adder bite was made. Berg adder bites are uncommon and therefore not usually considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with an unexplained clinical picture. A timeous poison information helpline consultation is recommended in this situation.
Description
CITATION: Wium, C. A., et al. 2017. Berg adder (Bitis atropos) : an unusual case of acute poisoning. South African Medical Journal, 107(12):1075-1077, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i12.12763.
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj
Keywords
Eye -- Paralysis, Snakebites -- Diagnosis, Poisonous snakes, Viperdiae -- Toxicology, Berg adder -- Toxicology, Bites atropos -- Toxicology
Citation
Wium, C. A., et al. 2017. Berg adder (Bitis atropos) : an unusual case of acute poisoning. South African Medical Journal, 107(12):1075-1077, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i12.12763