Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
04:18
A Modified Model Preparation for Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Reperfusion
Published on: May 31, 2024
Cerebellar ataxia following snake bite.
R Awasthi1, Shiva Narang, Partho P Chowdhury
1Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India. Received.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|December 4, 2010
Summary
Neurotoxic snake envenomations can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. This case study shows full recovery after treatment, but delayed cerebellar ataxia may occur due to venom neurotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Neurotoxic snake envenomations are a significant medical emergency.
- These envenomations can lead to severe neuromuscular paralysis and respiratory compromise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of neurotoxic snakebite.
- To highlight the potential for delayed neurotoxicity manifesting as cerebellar ataxia.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case presentation.
- Review of patient's symptoms, treatment, and recovery.
Main Results:
- The patient experienced neuromuscular paralysis and respiratory failure following a snakebite.
- Effective treatment led to full recovery from acute symptoms.
- Delayed cerebellar ataxia developed, suggesting a possible late-onset neurotoxic effect of the venom.
Conclusions:
- Prompt and effective treatment can reverse acute neurotoxic effects of snake venom.
- Delayed neurotoxicity, including cerebellar ataxia, is a potential complication of neurotoxic snake envenomation.
- Further research into the mechanisms of delayed neurotoxicity is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Botulism
Botulism is a life-threatening neuroparalytic condition caused by botulinum neurotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe.In adults, the toxin enters the body in different ways: in foodborne botulism, the preformed toxin is absorbed in the intestine. In wound botulism, spores grow in injured tissue and release the toxin into the blood. Infant botulism differs mechanistically from adult forms. In infants, botulism commonly...
01:29Tetanus
Tetanus is a life-threatening neurological disorder characterized by persistent muscle contractions and spastic paralysis. It is caused by Clostridium tetani, a motile, Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobe. These bacteria produce terminal endospores, giving them a distinctive “lollipop” or “tennis-racket” appearance. They thrive in anaerobic environments, such as those found in deep puncture wounds.Once introduced into the body, the spores germinate into vegetative cells. These cells...
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
01:28Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
01:25Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology
Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...