envenimation

INTRODUCTION: Snakebite envenomation is a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Antivenoms are the only etiological treatment. However, the dose recommended by the manufacturer (2 vials renewed every 2 hours in case of persistent bleeding) is usually not applied due to the high cost which is borne only by the patient. Based on clinical presentation, we evaluated the administration of a single vial on admission (instead of 2 vials), which corresponds to the therapeutic protocol used in current practice in most health centers in Benin and beyond in SSA...

Background: Envenomation by snakebite is a public health problem in developing countries. Neurovascular complications are uncommon. We report two cases of hemorrhagic stroke at the Sourô Sanou Teaching Hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso, which complicate an envenomation. Clinical description: The first patient was a 60-year-old woman with no history, who had been admitted 2 hours after snakebite for gingivorrhagia and consciousness disorders. Clinical examination found coma (GCS 7/15) and tetraparesis...

Introduction: Snakebite envenomation can cause serious damage. Here, we report the case of a six-year-old male child bitten by a snake. Clinical description: The child presented a gingivorrhagia, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting and severe headache from a snakebite. Neurological examination showed paralysis of the III cranial nerve associated with bilateral blindness and mydriasis, unreactive on the right. The brain scan revealed a left frontal hematoma. The course on antivenom was marked by the disappearance of clinical signs except blindness which remained 18 months after discharge...

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The amputation of the finger complicating an ophidian bite is rare. It is due to virulence of the venom, its concentration in a small volume of tissue and use of a tourniquet. Support of the victim seeks to save his life and function of his(her) hand. Antivenin immunotherapy is the only specific treatment for ophidian envenimation. It is indicated in case of general signs showing a serious bite, but also if local signs could lead to loss of limb function. The authors report three cases of snakebite complicated by amputation of a finger...

The 3rd International Conference on Envenomations was held in Brazzaville from 15 to 17 November; 2007. At this meeting, updating of epidemiological and treatment information on envenomations in Africa were presented. A round table concluded the conference drawing contributors' main recommendations. One of these recommendation pointed out the need to treat the problem of envenimations at a regional level by creating a group of experts in charge of considering the priorities as well as identifying relevant strategies of management, ensuring the plea and finding the financing...

Scorpion stings represent the first cause of poisoning with an incidence of 30 to 50% of all declared cases in the Centre Anti Poison of Morocco (CAPM). Aware of this increasing problem, the CAPM paid special attention to this pathology. Thanks to its retrospective and prospective studies, the scorpion species mapping has been determined as well as the demographic features of stung patients, the nature and the chronology of clinical events in scorpion envenimation, and the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical factors of severity...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The clinic table of serious scorpionic envenimation is dominated by cardiovascular and pulmonary perturbations. The physiopathology of cardiac failure in man as well as at animal is again badly elucidated. The aim of our study has consisted in evaluating the hemodynamic variations of the Rat poisoned by the venom of the Buthus occitanus scorpion and to contribute through the analyse of plasmatic concentrations of catecholamines and by an histomorphometric study of muscular microcirculation to explain the mechanism of the hemodynamic perturbations and cardiac failure...

Anyone traveling far from home should take along a first aid kit. Contents should be chosen carefully with the awareness that infection is not the main problem facing travelers. The basic kit is the same regardless of the purpose or duration of the trip or of the health and knowledge of the traveler. Priority should be given to allergic risks, to the quality of the thermometer, to the packaging of indispensable medications to a medical certificate justifying transport of drugs and syringes for personal medical use, and to preventive devices for sexually transmitted diseases...