Review of treatment and complications in 79 children with rattlesnake bite.
Envenomation by snakebite is a health problem in Mexico. To review the treatment and complications of rattlesnake bites in 79 children. The variables studied were age, sex, season, hour, signs, symptoms, and complications during 1977 to 1996 (group I) and 1997 to 2006 (group II). Hospitalization time and antivenom type, including polyvalent equine antiviperin serum and a [F(ab')2] antivenom (fabotherapic), were also studied. Results. Most incidents (35%) occurred within the perimeter of children's homes and 8.8% took place inside homes; 40.5% of the children were females; and most snakebites occurred during the summer (70.8%). Members of groups I and II received polyvalent equine antiviperin serum and fabotherapy, respectively. Hospitalization time was less in group II members (P < .0001). The complications in group I members included hypoprothrombinemia and hypofibrinogenemia (P < .0001). Hospitalization time, complications, and treatment cost were less in patients undergoing fabotherapy.