A snakebite in Surinam: a case report

ABSTRACT

The consequences of a snakebite by Bothrops atrox L., in the interior of Surinam, are reported in detail. In Surinam a bite by a poisonous snake occurs seldomly rarely, because most poisonous snakes do not attack and only bite when they are disturbed. The mortality from such a snakebite is estimated at 30 per cent. In this case a Dutch scientist was bitten by a 47 cm long Bothrops atrox in the top of his left thumb. He received an injection of polyvalent antivenim near the bite, but this could not penetrate properly. Later on he got 3 more injections, all within 50 minutes after the bite. From the first day until the tenth day, all symptoms were recorded. On the eleventh day, everything returned to normal