Snake bite: Biochemical changes in blood after envenomation by viper and cobra
Journal Title: Journal of Medical and Allied Sciences - Year 2011, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Snake bite poisoning is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in tropical and sub-tropical countries like India. The present study was taken up to evaluate the biochemical changes in snake bite cases in different time periods. The clotting time (C.T) was 55.83±38.5 in viper bite cases, much higher than in controls, 5.07±1.33, which was normalized after anti venom administration; however no significant changes were observed in cobra bite cases. Thus evaluation of C.T. may help to differentiate viper bites from cobra bites and to choose specific monovalent anti-venom treatment. The blood urea level in viper bite cases increased significantly after the sixth hour: 58.19±27.6 mg% in cases; 25.80±4.9mg% in controls. Since anti-venom does not decrease the blood urea to normal, dialysis is required for normalization of urea level. Blood creatinine level in the majority of viper bite cases was found to be increased (1.60–7.4 mg%) after the sixth hour, where as in cobra bite cases it was found only in 9% (1.5-2mg%); this increased creatinine level in viper bite cases caused the renal failure. Sodium and potassium levels were not increased in both cobra and viper bite cases, up to the fourth day. However, in 50% of viper bite cases, significant elevation in sodium level was observed on 5th and 6th day, due to the secondary effect of renal failure. 50% of the viper and cobra bite cases showed rise in potassium level on the sixth day which ranged between 5.1– 4.14 mEq/litre. No significant difference was observed in serum calcium level between viper and cobra bite cases. In the present study, clotting time increases immediately after viper bite, detection of which within six hours is a good indicator of envenomation by viper bite. The other biochemical parameters would be helpful to assess the severity of renal failure predominant after six hours of envenomation.
Authors and Affiliations
K. M. Pradeep Kumar| Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College, Calicut, Kerala, India, M. P. Basheer| Department of Physiology, MES Medical College, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP12645
- DOI -
- Views 504
- Downloads 56
The use of insulin for early diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary health care in Indonesia: a general practitioner’s perspective
Indonesia, one of the greatest population countries, contributes a significant increase of global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The need of insulin treatment is significantly rising as many cases do not meet...
Bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in neonatal septicemia in view of emerging drug resistance
The objective of this study was to isolate pathogenic bacteria in neonatal septicaemia cases, and to know their antibiograms. Under aseptic precautions, blood was drawn from 140 neonates with suspected septicaemia and i...
Prevention of nosocomial infections and standard precautions: knowledge and practice among radiographers in Sri Lanka
Nosocomial infection is an infection if it becomes positive 48 hours or more after admission to the hospital or within 30 days of discharge. Health care workers can be a major source of vectors for pathogens. Nowadays...
Lipid profile of patients having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as per ultrasound findings in north Indian population: A retrospective observational study
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the lipid profile and body mass index (BMI) of the patients suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in north Indian population. A total of...
Effect of Allopregnenalone (AP) and 4′- Chlorodiazepam (4′CD) on the Lindane-induced acute and chronic convulsive behavior in rats
Neurosteroids (NS) are considered important modulators of brain functions. Lindane a pesticide has been shown to affect the nervous system adversely. The present study was designed to explore the modulation of the effe...