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VENOMOUS SNAKEBITES IN CROATIA, CLINICAL PRESENTATION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Darinka Tunjić Pejak1, Višnja Nesek Adam1,2,3, Ivana Srzić1

  • 1Clinical Hospital Sveti Duh, Department of Emergency Medicine, Zagreb.

Acta Clinica Croatica
|October 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Venomous snake bites are a significant global health issue. In Croatia, while venomous snakes exist, severe outcomes from ophidism (snake venom envenomation) are rare due to prompt medical care.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Herpetology

Background:

  • Venomous snake bites pose a major global health threat, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
  • Over 3 million snake bites and 100,000 deaths occur annually worldwide.
  • Croatia experiences venomous snake bites, but with a low mortality rate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the public health impact of venomous snake bites.
  • To describe the venomous snake species in Croatia.
  • To outline the clinical presentation and management of ophidism.

Main Methods:

  • Review of global and national snake bite statistics.
  • Identification of venomous snake species in Croatia: Vipera ammodytes, Vipera berus, and Vipera ursinii macrops.
  • Description of the pathophysiology and diagnostic challenges of ophidism.

Main Results:

  • Croatia reported 632 hospitalizations for snake bites with only 3 deaths.
  • The clinical effects of snake venom include hematotoxic, neurotoxic, myotoxic, and cytotoxic impacts.
  • Diagnosis of systemic envenomation relies on clinical signs and tests, as no specific test for venom spread exists.

Conclusions:

  • Ophidism requires urgent medical attention following initial first aid.
  • Timely transport to a medical facility is crucial for assessing severity and initiating treatment.
  • Understanding snake venom's effects and diagnostic limitations is key to managing ophidism.

Keywords:
Croatiadiagnostics of ophidismepidemiologyophidismtreatment

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