SNAKE VENOM POISONING IN KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

A total of fifty six cases, during a four-year period, with various risk factors for a snakebite was clinically screened in King Khalid Hospital, Al-Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Four patients died (8%), three died with renal failure and one died with circulatory collapse. Renal damage as indicated by a significant (P/ 0.0001) increase in serum levels of urea, creatinine and potassium as well as a significant decrease in serum level of sodium were observed. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT) and creatine phosphokinase were significantly (P/ 0.0001) elevated which are indicative of liver and cardiac damage. Hematological data were indicative of anaemia and leukocytosis and showed anticoagulant activity. Hematuria, hemo globinuria, myoglobinuria and albuminuria were concurrent in this study. No pathogenic organisms were isolated from fang marks.