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Snake and Insect Bites, Pediatric

Mamata V. Senthil, MD and Payal K. Gala, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Injury to the human skin and/or subcutaneous tissues caused by bite, envenomation, or sting, causing local but sometimes systemic effects

  • Snake bites

    • Crotalinae (pit vipers: cottonmout...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

ALERT
  • If the snake is brought in for identification, use caution. The head of a dead snake can deliver a venomous bite for up to 1 hour after death/decapitation.

  • Snake bites

    • Poisonous sn...

TREATMENT

  • Crotalinae (pit vipers) bites

    • Remove constrictive items (jewelry or clothing) and immobilize extremity at the level of the heart. Cryotherapy, arterial tourniquets, incision, excision, oral s...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Snake bites: Because the majority of snake bites are from nonvenomous snakes, and ~1/3 of bites from venomous snakes do not involve envenomation, the majority of bites cause only...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • American College of Medical Toxicology, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Association of Poison Control Centers, European Association of Poison Control Centres and C...

CODES

ICD9

  • 989.5 Toxic effect of venom

  • 919.4 Insect bite, nonvenomous, of other, multiple, and unspecified sites, without mention of infection

ICD10

  • T63.481A Toxic effect of venom of arthropod, accidental...

FAQ

  • Q: How many patients with crotaline snake bites die from envenomation?

  • A: Death is rare even with snake bites and occur in <1% of patients who are bitten. Prognosis is worst for those who are bi...

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