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Risk factors for high-grade envenomations after French viper bites in children
Isabelle Claudet1, Céline Maréchal, Emmanuel Gurrera
1Pediatric Emergency Department, Children Hospital, Toulouse, France. claudet.i@chu-toulouse.fr
Insights
Viper bites in children can lead to severe envenomations. Upper extremity bites, immediate severe pain, and female sex are risk factors for high-grade envenomation, requiring careful observation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Herpetology
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Viper bites are a significant concern in pediatric populations.
- Children are more susceptible to severe envenomations following viper bites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize clinical, biological, and therapeutic aspects of viper bites in French children.
- To identify predictors of severe envenomation in pediatric cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of pediatric emergency department admissions from 2001-2009.
- Data collected included demographics, accident circumstances, envenomation severity, and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- 58 children were analyzed; 17% experienced high-grade envenomations.
- Risk factors for severe envenomation included upper extremity bites, afternoon bites, intense pain, and elevated initial glucose.
- Multivariate analysis identified upper extremity location, immediate severe pain, and female sex as significant risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Specific criteria indicate an increased risk of severe envenomation.
- Viper bites on upper extremities warrant close monitoring due to higher risk of severe outcomes.
Background:
Viper bites and subsequent evolution to severe envenomations are more frequent in children.
Aim:
The aims of this study were to describe the clinical, biological, and therapeutic characteristics of children bitten by vipers in France and to identify risk factors associated with severe envenomations.
Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted between 2001 and 2009 in the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary-level children hospital. Collected data were age and sex of children; day and time of admission; day, time, and circumstances of the accident; snake identification; bite location; envenomation severity; presence of fang marks; prehospital care; use of specific immunotherapy and associated treatments; length of stay; and hospital course.
Results:
Fifty-eight children were included (43 boys, 15 girls). The mean age was 7.8 ± 4.1 years. Bites were most often located on the lower extremities (77%). The classification of envenomation was: 83% low grade (absence or minor envenomation) and 17% high-grade (moderate to severe envenomations). All high-grade envenomations received specific immunotherapy (Viperfav). Being bitten on an upper extremity (P < 0.001), during the afternoon (P = 0.025), feeling violent pain (P = 0.037), and high initial glucose level (P = 0.016) were associated with a significant risk of high-grade envenomation. In the multivariate analysis, 3 factors remained significant: upper-extremity location (relative risk [RR], 60.5 [3.5-1040]; P = 0.005), immediate violent pain (RR, 21.5 [1.3-364.5]; P = 0.03), and female sex (RR, 17.5 [0.9-320.3]; P = 0.053).
Conclusions:
A certain number of criteria seem related to more significant risk of progression to high-grade envenomation. Bites to the upper extremities should be carefully observed because of the risk of evolution to a high-grade envenomation.
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