ABSCESS SECONDARY TO FACIAL SNAKEBITE

M. QUIROGA(1), M. L. AVILA-AGÜERO(2), I. FAINGEZICHT(3)

(1)General Practitioner; (2)Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist, Professor of Pediatrics Universidad Autónoma de Centro América; (3)Head of Department, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Professor of Pediatrics Universidad de Costa Rica

ABSTRACT. In Costa Rica, approximately 700 snakebite cases occur each year, 5 to 10 of which result in death. At the Hospital Nacional de Niños (HNN), 6 to 10 cases are reported annually, more than half of these cases and nearly all deaths are result from Bothrops asper snakebite. This venomous snake, popularly known as the "terciopelo", most often attacks the lower or upper limbs and characteristically produces local tissue damage, which can be severe. The following is a report of the first case of a non-fatal and unusual facial bite caused by Bothrops asper in our country.

KEY WORDS: snakebite, abscess, Bothrops asper.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

M. L. AVILA-AGÜERO - SJO 1978, P. O. Box 025216, Miami, Fla. 33102-5216, USA. Telephone: (506) 258-2173 - Fax: (506) 221-6821 Email mavila@hnn.sa.cr or  maluvi@sol.racsa.co.cr