Snake bite in Loikaw with special reference to Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) bite

ABSTRACT

A retospective study of 38 snakebite cases admitted to liokaw Divisional Hospital during 1995-96 was carried out. Twenty four were bitten by green pit viper (GPV) (Trimeresurus erythrurus), 13 Russell's viper (Daboia russelli siamensis) and one attributed to Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma). The median age of the victim is 21 year (5-66 yr) and 66 per cent of them are less than 30 years old. It took 11.20 hours (0.30 to 97 h) to get to the hospital. Lower linbs (12/13) were predominantly bitten in Russell's viper bite and both upper and lower limbs were bitten in tr. erythrurus bite. Day bite is 4 times more common than after dark bite. Clinical features of snakebites of both species are similar to those reported ones except spontaneous bleeding bleeding gums 38.5 per cent (5/13) and epistasis 23 per cent (3/13) are comon in Russell's viper bites. One C. rhodostoma bite confirmed by immunodiagnosis, presented with incoagulable blood developed a deep ulcer which took over 100 days to heal leaving a big scar.