Snake Bite by Vipera berus

Overview

Cases of snake bites (Vipera berus) have as compared with past years a rising trend in the Czech Republic. Thisensues among other factors from a higher prevalence of snakes due to the improving ecological situation. Themorbidity of snake bites is of no epidemiological importance, the frequency of snake bites amounts to several tensper year and in some clinically manifest intoxication does not develop. Nevertheless in individual cases, in childrenweakened subjects, a viper bite may be manifested by a serious and in exceptional instances fatal affection. Withinthe framework of first aid the authors do not recommend application of a tourniquet or dissectiong of the woundbecause of undersirable potentiation of tissue traumatization. Non-specific treatment involves the administrationof corticoids and antihistaminics. Specific immunotherapy, administration of horse antiserum (Ipser Europe, PasteurMérieux, France) is indicated only in case of systemic or very severe local symptoms and is associated with the riskof a severe allergic reaction. In case of severe systemic symptoms, symptomatic treatment in a health institution ofthe appropriate type is of fundamental importance. In all cases observation of the affected subject is recommendedto rule out intoxication or the development of possible complications.

Key words:
Vipera berus, snake bite, corticosteroids, antihistaminics, specific immunotherapy.