Buying a poisonous snake to raise as a pet, the boy’s life is dangerously bitten

The Emergency Department of Poison Control, National Children’s Hospital has just treated a 13-year-old boy in Hanoi who was bitten by a red-tailed viper, which is dangerous to his life. This is a snake that the patient ordered on the internet to keep as a pet.

According to the boy’s mother, her son loves to keep animals and sometimes learns about animals online. Two weeks before being admitted to the hospital, the child hid from family members and ordered 3 vipers online to raise at home. Around 3:30 p.m. on May 3, when changing the cage for snakes in his own room, the patient was bitten by a snake on his index finger while packing a snake farming box.

Dr.BS Le Ngoc Duy, Head of Emergency Department of Poison Control, National Hospital of Pediatrics, said that the patient was admitted to the hospital in a conscious state but tired, although he had just been bitten by a snake, his right hand was swollen, bruised and bleeding. index finger bleeding, pain…

Doctors treated with serum infusion of anti-viper venom, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic to prevent wound infection… After 1 day of active treatment. health The patient is gradually stabilizing. The patient can be discharged from the hospital within the next few days.

First aid when bitten by a snake

According to TS.BS Le Ngoc Duy, if people are bitten by a venomous snake, people should immediately call the nearest hospital emergency number for emergency treatment with a specific antivenom serum, especially when the wound has teeth marks. fangs or signs of discoloration, beginning of painful swelling.

While waiting for the help of medical staff, people should take first aid steps when bitten by a venomous snake to slow down and limit the venom entering the body such as moving the victim out of range. the snake’s movements; Stay calm and limit movement, preferably immobilize the bitten limb with a splint, to slow the spread of the venom.

Besides, it is necessary to remove jewelry and loosen tight clothes to avoid causing pressure to cause the wound to begin to swell; position the bitten area below heart level, such as lying down, even while being transported to the hospital; clean the wound with soap and physiological saline; Use a clean, dry gauze pad to cover the bitten area.

TS.BS Le Ngoc Duy noted that people should not use gauze bandages to tighten the bitten area, this way both hurts the victim and hinders blood circulation to the extremities causing necrosis. People do not arbitrarily apply cold, apply chemicals, apply leaves … on the wound; Remember the snake color so that the doctor can easily identify the type of snake to treat.