Confirmed Ceylon krait (Bungarus ceylonicus) envenoming in Sri Lanka resulting in neuromuscular paralysis: a case report
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND Ceylon krait (Bungarus ceylonicus) is a venomous elapid snake endemic to Sri Lanka. It inhabits shaded home gardens and forests in the wet zone of Sri Lanka and might creep into houses in the night. Despite frequent encounters with humans, reports of envenoming are very rare. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of a 26-year-old Sri Lankan Sinhalese man with confirmed Ceylon krait envenoming presenting with bilateral partial ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, facial muscle weakness, and dysphagia. Single fiber electromyography and repetitive nerve stimulation confirmed neuromuscular paralysis. He was administered polyvalent anti-venom serum immediately following admission without a prompt clinical response. Complete recovery was observed 3 days following the bite. CONCLUSIONS Because of the rarity of envenoming, precise and detailed information on the clinical manifestations following envenoming is lacking. However, Ceylon krait bite can be potentially fatal; so, treating physicians should be aware of species identification, habitat, and biting habits and clinical presentation of envenoming of Ceylon krait. This case report adds knowledge to the existing limited literature available on Ceylon krait envenoming; a rare but potentially fatal clinical entity.
منابع مشابه
Severe Neurotoxic Envenoming and Cardiac Complications after the Bite of a ‘Sind Krait’ (Bungarus cf. sindanus) in Maharashtra, India
We report a case of severe envenoming with unusual complications and two anecdotal cases of fatalities following proven 17-scale-row 'Sind krait' (Bungarus cf. sindanus) bites on people sleeping in temporary huts at construction sites in Pune District, Maharashtra, India. A 25-yr-old male developed progressive neuromuscular paralysis, abdominal pain and autonomic disturbances complicated by fou...
متن کاملA case of a sea snake bite resulting in fatal envenoming.
Sea snakes of Sri Lanka are among the most venomous snakes in the island although they have not received much attention in the last few decades. According to data from other countries, they may be more toxic than highly venomous land snakes in the island. Most sea snake species found around Sri Lanka are gentle and inoffensive and will only bite when provoked, but certain species like Astrotia ...
متن کاملPrevention of krait bites by sleeping above ground: preliminary results from an observational pilot study
INTRODUCTION Neurotoxic envenoming following the bites of kraits (Bungarus spp.) is a common cause of death in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and elsewhere in South Asia. Most of these bites occur at night and are inflicted on people sleeping on the ground. Thus we hypothesized that the simple measure of sleeping above ground would help to reduce the number of observed krait bites. METHODS This st...
متن کاملThe greater black krait (Bungarus niger), a newly recognized cause of neuro-myotoxic snake bite envenoming in Bangladesh.
Prospective studies of snake bite patients in Chittagong, Bangladesh, included five cases of bites by greater black kraits (Bungarus niger), proven by examination of the snakes that had been responsible. This species was previously known only from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Burma. The index case presented with descending flaccid paralysis typical of neurotoxic envenoming by all Bungarus species, ...
متن کاملClinical features of 60 consecutive ICU-treated patients envenomed by Bungarus multicinctus.
In northern Vietnam, Bungarus multicinctus is the only krait of medical importance. We report 60 consecutive patients admitted to an ICU in Hanoi during 2000-2003 because of envenoming by B. multicinctus. Their mean age was 33 years (range 12-67), 77% were male. The majority were agricultural workers, 69% of the snakebites occurred during the night. The mean length of time until the first sympt...
متن کامل