|
Abstract
|
A 12-year-old boy bitten by a rattlesnake while camping at the Ocala National Forest in Florida on August 1, 1976, died the next day. Death was attributed to renal failure, a consequence of the bite.
The 60-pound camper was bitten at approximately 3:35 P M on August 1, while gathering palm fronds with his 10 year-old step-brother near the outer fringe area of a State- operated youth camp located on Lake Eaton. The step- brother, the only witness, later identified the snake as a "diamond-back" (presumably the diamond-back Crotalus adamanteus).
The boy's health form for camp specified that he was allergic to insect bites, bee stings, and poison ivy. Camp officials administered first aid immediately, while a camp vehicle was obtained to transfer him to a local hospital. The bite marks were 3.3 centimeters apart — an indication of a fairly large snake. A constriction band was placed above the bite on the lower right leg, and a blade from a snakebite kit was used to incise the wounds. Camp officials used suction of the bite within minutes — a procedure they continued until they arrived at the hospital emergency room less than an hour later. Camp personnel had notified a fire station emergency vehicle to intercept the camp vehicle for a hastened delivery to the hospital; they had also informed the hospital of the patient and his history of allergies.
The patient was treated with steroids, rather than anti- venom, because of his history of allergies. He died at 5:30 AM on August 2.
Attempts by camp officials to find the snake were unsuccessful.
Reported by AW Morrison Jr. RS, Environmental Health Program. EWP Smith, MD, Acting State Epidemiologist, Health Program Of- fice, Florida Dept of Health and Rehabilitative Services; Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission; and the Environmental Health Services Div, Bur of State Services, CDC.
Editorial Note: Although the mortality from snake bites is generally low, the boy's history of allergies, his small size, and the apparent large size of the snake (and thus its dosage of venom) appear to have been factors in this incident Under most circumstances, anti-venom is the recommended treatment. |