COMPLICATIONS OF ECHIS-COLORATA SNAKE BITES IN THE ASIR REGION OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Seven Saudi children bitten by Echis colorata, a species of carpet viper encountered mainly in the Middle East, were studied in south-western Saudi Arabia. They all showed severe local signs of swelling, ecchymosis and blisters, and one also had local necrosis. Four children had systemic envenoming with vomiting and hypotension, and one child had acute renal failure. Three of them had prolonged prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times and hypofibrinogenaemia resulting from disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. They were initially managed in the intensive care unit and received intravenous fluids and polyvalent antivenom. Apart from one child who required skin grafting for local necrosis, complete recovery with no sequelae occurred in all cases.