Envenomation by Micrurus coral snakes in the Brazilian Amazon region: report of two cases

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Pedro Pereira de Oliveira Pardal, Joseana Silva de Oliveira Pardal, Maria Apolônia da Costa Gadelha, Líliam da Silva Rodrigues, Darlan Tavares Feitosa, Ana Lúcia da Costa Prudente, Hui Wen Fan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2010
• Subjects: Envenomation; Coral snakes; Micrurus surinamensis; M. filiformis; Brazilian Amazon; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652010000600009; https://doaj.org/article/f1ba866927ef46d79433831270b6bd3f

Two cases of proven coral snake bites were reported in Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The first case was a severe one caused by Micrurus surinamensis. The patient required mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure. The second case showed just mild signs of envenomation caused by Micrurus filiformis. Both patients received specific Micrurus antivenom and were discharged without further complications. Coral snake bites are scarcely reported in the Amazon region and there is a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, varying from extremely mild to those which may rapidly lead to death if the patient is not treated as soon as possible.