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Vipera berus bites in Eastern Poland--a retrospective analysis of 15 case studies.
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012; 19(4):793-7.AA

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

The common European adder (Vipera berus) is the only venomous snake that is found naturally in Poland. This study presents the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of V.berus bites in Eastern Poland and describes the methods of poisoning treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical documentation of 15 patients hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections of the Medical University of Bialystok between 1998-2010 because of V.berus bite was analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Most of the snakebites were accidental (86.7% of the cases). The bites usually took place in forests (66.7% of the cases). The majority of patients were bitten in the lower extremity (8 cases, 53.3%), most often in the area of ankle joint. The severity of poisoning was usually minor to moderate. The most common local symptom was oedema (93.3% of the cases) and associated extravasations (73.3% of the cases). One patient experienced shock. Transient hypertension was observed in 3 cases. Mild coagulation disorders were present in 4 cases. In 4 cases, leukocytosis was observed. 86.7% of patients received the specific antivenom. No fatal outcome and no adverse reactions after antivenom administration were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

In the majority cases of poisoning with V.berus venom, the poisoning takes a mild course, limited to local oedema, but sometimes it may lead to severe complications. The only specific method of the treatment is antivenom administration.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Garkowski A
Department of the Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University, Bialystok, Poland. adamo1805@mp.pl
Czupryna P
No affiliation info available
Zajkowska A
No affiliation info available
Pancewicz S
No affiliation info available
Moniuszko A
No affiliation info available
Kondrusik M
No affiliation info available
Grygorczuk S
No affiliation info available
Gołębicki P
No affiliation info available
Letmanowski M
No affiliation info available
Zajkowska J
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAged, 80 and overAnimalsAntiveninsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPolandRetrospective StudiesSnake BitesTreatment OutcomeViper VenomsViperidaeYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Case Reports
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

23289356

Citation

Garkowski, Adam, et al. "Vipera Berus Bites in Eastern Poland--a Retrospective Analysis of 15 Case Studies." Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM, vol. 19, no. 4, 2012, pp. 793-7.
Garkowski A, Czupryna P, Zajkowska A, et al. Vipera berus bites in Eastern Poland--a retrospective analysis of 15 case studies. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012;19(4):793-7.
Garkowski, A., Czupryna, P., Zajkowska, A., Pancewicz, S., Moniuszko, A., Kondrusik, M., Grygorczuk, S., Gołębicki, P., Letmanowski, M., & Zajkowska, J. (2012). Vipera berus bites in Eastern Poland--a retrospective analysis of 15 case studies. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM, 19(4), 793-7.
Garkowski A, et al. Vipera Berus Bites in Eastern Poland--a Retrospective Analysis of 15 Case Studies. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012;19(4):793-7. PubMed PMID: 23289356.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Vipera berus bites in Eastern Poland--a retrospective analysis of 15 case studies. AU - Garkowski,Adam, AU - Czupryna,Piotr, AU - Zajkowska,Agata, AU - Pancewicz,Sławomir, AU - Moniuszko,Anna, AU - Kondrusik,Maciej, AU - Grygorczuk,Sambor, AU - Gołębicki,Paweł, AU - Letmanowski,Michał, AU - Zajkowska,Joanna, PY - 2013/1/8/entrez PY - 2013/1/8/pubmed PY - 2013/7/5/medline SP - 793 EP - 7 JF - Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM JO - Ann Agric Environ Med VL - 19 IS - 4 N2 - INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The common European adder (Vipera berus) is the only venomous snake that is found naturally in Poland. This study presents the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of V.berus bites in Eastern Poland and describes the methods of poisoning treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical documentation of 15 patients hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections of the Medical University of Bialystok between 1998-2010 because of V.berus bite was analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Most of the snakebites were accidental (86.7% of the cases). The bites usually took place in forests (66.7% of the cases). The majority of patients were bitten in the lower extremity (8 cases, 53.3%), most often in the area of ankle joint. The severity of poisoning was usually minor to moderate. The most common local symptom was oedema (93.3% of the cases) and associated extravasations (73.3% of the cases). One patient experienced shock. Transient hypertension was observed in 3 cases. Mild coagulation disorders were present in 4 cases. In 4 cases, leukocytosis was observed. 86.7% of patients received the specific antivenom. No fatal outcome and no adverse reactions after antivenom administration were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority cases of poisoning with V.berus venom, the poisoning takes a mild course, limited to local oedema, but sometimes it may lead to severe complications. The only specific method of the treatment is antivenom administration. SN - 1898-2263 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/23289356/Vipera_berus_bites_in_Eastern_Poland__a_retrospective_analysis_of_15_case_studies_ L2 - http://www.aaem.pl/fulltext.php?ICID=1024057 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -