Abstract
In this case, a patient is envenomated by his friend’s exotic pet snake. The patient rapidly develops signs of neurotoxicity, including blurred vision, ptosis, and difficulty swallowing. He ultimately develops respiratory arrest and bradycardia. In this chapter, we review some of the toxins that can cause progressive neurologic symptoms including botulinum toxin, neurotoxic snakes in the US, and some of the exotic snakes that can cause neurologic effects.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
CSL Snake Venom Detection Kit Product Leaflet. 2007. http://www.csl.com.au/docs/92/398/SVDK_Product_Leaflet,0.pdf. Accessed 30 Dec 2015.
Currie B, Fitzmaurice M, Oakley J. Resolution of neurotoxicity with anticholinesterase therapy in death adder envenomation. Med J Aust. 1988;148(10):522–5.
Dressler D, Saberi F, Barbosa E. Botulinum toxin. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2005;63(1):180–5.
Fernandez MC. Clinical and demographic aspects of coral snake envenomations in Texas. J Med Toxicol. 2009;5(4):251.
Flachsenberger W, Mirtschin P. Anticholinesterases as antidotes to envenomation of rats by the death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus). Toxicon. 1994;32(1):35–9.
Isbister G, Brown S, Page C, McCoubrie D, Greene S, Buckley N. Snakebite in Australia: a practical approach to diagnosis and treatment. Med J Aust. 2013;199:763–8.
Johnston CI, et al. Death adder envenoming causes neurotoxicity not reversed by Antivenom—Australian Snakebite Project (ASP-16). PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6(9):e1841.
Kitchens C, Van Mierop L. Envenomation by the eastern coral snake (Mircrurus fulvius fulvius): a study of 39 victims. JAMA. 1987;258(12):1615–8.
Lalloo DG, et al. Neurotoxicity, anticoagulant activity and evidence of rhabdomyolysis in patients bitten by death adders (Acanthophis sp.) in southern Papua New Guinea. Q J Med. 1996;89:25–35.
Little M, Pereira P. Successful treatment of presumed death-adder neurotoxicity using anticholinesterases. Emerg Med. 2000;12:241–5.
Norris R, Pfalzgraf R, Laing G. Death following coral snake bite in the United States – First documented case (with ELISA confirmation of envenomation) in over 40 years. Toxicon. 2009;53:693–7.
O’Connor A, Ruha A, Levine M. Pressure immobilization bandages not indicated in the pre-hospital management of North American snakebites. J Med Toxicol. 2011;7(3):251.
Pizon A, Riley B, Ruha AM. Antivenom (Crotaline). In: Nelson LS, et al., editors. Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2011. p. 1613.
Shukla H, Sharma S. Clostridium: botulinum: a bug with beauty and weapon. Crit Rev Microbiol. 2005;31(1):11–8.
Snyder G, Ramsey H, Taylor W, Chiou C. Neuromuscular blockade of chick biventer cervicis nerve muscle preparation by a fraction from coral snake venom. Toxicon. 1973;11:505–8.
Weiss R, McIsaac R. Cardiovascular and muscular effects of venom from coral snake, Micrurus fulvius. Toxicon. 1971;9:219–28.
Wickramaratna JC, Hodgson WC. A pharmacological examination of venoms from three species of death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus, Acanthophis praelongus and Acanthophis pyrrhus). Toxicon. 2001;39:209–16.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gunja, N., Murphy, C. (2017). Case 5 Exotic Snake Envenomation. In: Dye, L.R., Murphy, C., Calello, D.P., Levine, M.D., Skolnik, A. (eds) Case Studies in Medical Toxicology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56449-4_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56449-4_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56447-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56449-4
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)