CASE REPORT Snake-Bite Gangrene in Children: A Report of Two Cases

Snake-bite can be both life and limb threatening, especially when there is envenomation. Early intervention in a fairly equipped health facility can go a long way in preventing the morbidity and mortality that can result from delay in initiating treatment. In this paper we report two cases of snakebite to the lower limbs in children that were both complicated by gangrene which led to major limb amputation in both. These are avoidable complications that should have been averted by appropriate care immediately after the snake-bite. Key words: Snake-bite, Gangrene, Children INTRODUCTION delay in initiating proper medical care with resultant Snake-bite is an alarming and frightening poor outcome. experience to the victim. This is more so in children of We hereby report two cases of snake-bite in school age who are already conscious of the dangers children in which there is envenomation with severe associated with snakes and snakebite. Snakebite local tissue necrosis and gangrene. Thi