Cerastes cerastes envenomation in an 18 year old female: a case report

An 18 year old woman was bitten on the second finger of her right hand by a Cerastes cerastes. A literature search revealed very few clinical cases, and most of those were only laboratory and in 'vitro studies'. Local signs included a hemorrhagic wound at the site of the bite with marked swelling of the entire hand. Twelve hours later, the patient developed coagulopathy, which lasted 3 days and required repeated administration of blood products. Treatment was essentially supportive and the patient was discharged from the hospital after 5 days in good condition.