Cobra bite is the second commonest
poisonous snake bite in
Myanmar. This descriptive study includes definite
cobra bite patients (n=10) admitted to Thingangyun Sanpya
Hospital from May 1999 to January 2000. their ages ranged from 5 years to 38 years; 70 per cent were bitten in South Dagon. 40 per cent had severe local reactions requiring
wound debridement and
skin grafting; 10 per cent had digital
amputation. All
patients received
antivenom and 80 per cent received
prostigmine and
atropine; 9
patients survived; 30 per cent required assisted
ventilation. One
patient,
who received antisnake
venom 100ml within 20 minutes, died after 30 hours on
respirator. although antisnake
venom and
respirator are useful in the management of
cobra bite,
survival rate is not 100 per cent. as 40 per cent of
bites occurred while sleeping, particular
attention should be given to tucking and sleeping in the middle of big
mosquito net. As
cobra bite also occurred in suburbs of Yangon, alnd
survival despite
therapy is not 100 per cent, everysone should
exercise snake bite preventive
measures.