CASE REPORT OF A CORAL SNAKE BITE (MICRURUS IBIBOBOCA) IN THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO, NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Resumo

The family Elapidae comprises 35 snake species in Brazil with Micrurus ibiboboca widely distributed in the northeast. Despite the high number of Micrurus species in Brazil, there are few cases of human envenomation in the literature. Here we describe a clinical report of envenomation due to the bite of M. ibiboboca in the State of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, that occurred in 2017. The patient presented with symptoms of muscle paralysis and sweating. He was admitted to the intensive care unit. A total of 10 ampules of anti-elapidic serum were administered. The patient complained of local pain that extended through the arm, paresthesia in the lower limbs, headache, and chest pain. Changes in the vision, respiratory, and neurological systems were not observed. This clinical case report on coral snake poisoning is useful for increasing the knowledge on the toxicological action of snake poison and its effect on injured individuals, thereby helping in the clinical evaluation and treatment.