The snake, the boy and the wardrobe:
While most of us are wary of these dangers from the outside, it turns out that sometimes they can harm us at home as well.
A 7-year-old boy from the Haifa area was referred to Rambam's emergency department last Sunday (July 9.7.23, XNUMX) suffering from acute symptoms for an unknown reason. Since the circumstances of the incident were somewhat vague, in the initial investigation in the community, they suspected that it was an allergic reaction to some kind of sting. But as the hours passed and the symptoms It got worse, it was decided to rush the boy to the hospital. When he arrived - it turned out to be a viper snake bite. In the investigation done in retrospect, the reptile was found hiding in the wardrobe in the children's room, which the boy and his four siblings share.
"My son woke up at five in the morning screaming"
The mother recounted what happened that day: "My son woke up at five in the morning screaming. He was crying and complaining of pain, but we couldn't figure out what happened. We saw that the thumb on his left hand was blue and that he was holding his hand without being able to move it. We thought he might have sprained his hand, or fallen out of bed Out of sleep. For a moment we didn't think of another scenario."
During the morning hours, the child was brought to the clinic in the residential area, where a preliminary inquiry was made, but the attending physician, who noticed bite marks on the child's hand, suspected that it was an allergic reaction and released the child with appropriate treatment. During the morning it seemed that his condition was only getting worse, and from there the mother chose to go back to the doctor for a re-examination: "The hand was already twice the size. He was already sleepy and the situation was quite alarming. When we got to the clinic he was vomiting. The doctor came out of the office and asked to call an ambulance for immediate evacuation to Ramb "m".
When they arrived at the children's emergency room at Ruth Hospital in Israel, the suspicion arose that it was a snake bite. According to Dr. Eidit Pasternak, director of the children's emergency room at the hospital, who examined the child, although no signs of injury were found on the hand, the observed symptoms, including the severe pain, the swelling in the hand, the appearance of hemorrhages, and yes - redness and swelling that are gradually spreading, were definitely suspicious For a snake bite: "We always look for signs of a bite, which were not seen in this case, but the child showed symptoms that were highly suspicious of a venomous snake bite. I contacted Dr. Yael Luria, director of the Poison Information Center, and told her that I suspected a snake bite. Dr. Luria and Dr. Kahana came to assess the child and agreed that it was probably a bite, and even though there was no unequivocal proof, since it was a life-threatening situation, it was decided to provide treatment with serum."
From the bathroom to the wardrobe in the children's room
Due to the time that had passed since the bite and the acute symptoms the child developed, he was hospitalized for a day in the pediatric intensive care unit at the Ruth Children's Hospital in Rambam, where he was treated with anti-snake bite serum and was under monitoring. During those hours, a snake catcher who was brought to the family home, located the cause of the drama - the rattlesnake that was hiding in the wardrobe of the children's room. According to the mother, the snake is in the house even though the apartment is well wired.
Apparently it came out of the bathroom drain
The snake apparently entered the house through one of the drain openings in the bathrooms or the kitchen, as the trapper explained to her.
ended in a miracle
The mother shares: "The immediate feeling was a feeling of gratitude, thinking about all the times we entered and left the room that morning, how many times I opened this wardrobe, the other children who slept in the same room and were not harmed and the fact that my son was on the road to recovery. There are no words to describe the magnitude of the miracle. Parents You have to feel the children, listen to them, their complaints and see them. They are indeed children, but they know very well what they need."
After further treatment in the children's hospitalization department at Rambam, the boy is expected to be released to his home today (Wednesday, July 12.7.23, XNUMX), when he is feeling well.
A sharp increase in snakebite cases due to global warming
According to the data of the National Center for Information on Poisonings in Rambam, between the months of January and July, the center handled 35 inquiries regarding snake bites. It is expected that as the temperatures rise and the weather warms, as every year, the number of these cases will increase.
"Cases of snake bites increase in the spring and summer seasons, that's when the snakes come out," explain the experts of the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology at Rambam, noting that not all snakes are venomous, but there are several species of venomous snakes in Israel, such as the common viper and the various vipers. "All over the country There are poisonous and non-poisonous species, when the bites can happen during trips, recreation in parks, playgrounds and also around the house, therefore - as in many cases, the best treatment is prevention!", points out Dr. Yael Luria, Director of the National Poisoning Information Center at Rambam .
It is very important to make sure that the living, working and playing areas are clean and not covered with weeds, thorns, waste piles or other hiding places where snakes may hide. It should be remembered that the poisonous snakes in Israel are also active at night, so when you go for a walk or to the yard in the evening, or at night, you should take care of good lighting or a flashlight and look carefully around. If you see a snake in the residential area, stay away and call a qualified snake catcher.
How to avoid:
On a trip, when sleeping in the open air, choose a free place to stay and stay away from piles of stones or bushes. It is recommended to place clothes and belongings in a high place and check the sleeping bag carefully before entering it. While getting ready in the morning, carefully shake all the equipment and check the clothes and shoes.
Some simple rules to remember to avoid hops:
- We will keep the surroundings of the house, kindergartens, camps and playgrounds clean of weeds and scraps.
- We will go for a walk in closed shoes.
- We will not put our hands and feet in places where snakes may hide, such as bushes, between rocks, etc.
What do we do in the event of a hit?
- Move away from the snake and immediately call for help: MDA - 101, then you can consult the National Poisoning Information Center at 04-777-1900.
- We will not try to catch or kill the snake! Only shoot from a safe distance!
- We will remove a watch or jewelry (rings, bracelets, watch, etc.) from the affected limb. Do not bandage, fix, refrigerate or try to remove the venom.
- We will wait for evacuation at rest.
If possible, please indicate on which street in Haifa the biting happened