Acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to a viper envenomation in children

• Published in: Archives de pédiatrie : organe officiel de la Société française de pédiatrie Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 749 - 751
• Main Authors: Irié Bi, G S, Kouame, K E, Pete, Y, Ogondon, B, N'da-Koffi, C, Kouadio, K S, Boua, N, Brouh, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01-08-2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Antidotes - administration & dosage; Antivenins - administration & dosage; Disease Progression; Edema - etiology; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Lower Extremity - pathology; Necrosis - etiology; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy - methods; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - etiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - therapy; Snake Bites - complications; Snake Bites - therapy; Time Factors; Viperidae
• ISSN: 1769-664X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2017.05.014

Viper envenomation is responsible for inflammatory disorders, hemorrhagic complications, and local or extended necrosis. The occurrence of respiratory complications such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is exceptional. We report on the case of a 15-year-old with no particular history who had, 24h after a viper bite, swelling of the right lower limb associated with blood dyscrasia. Despite the administration of antivenom treatment, the progression was marked by the onset of ARDS and the patient's death within 48h.