Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 349 | 171 | 30 |
Full Text Views | 43 | 17 | 0 |
PDF Downloads | 38 | 20 | 0 |
The brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, is abundant on Guam and commonly invades human habitations. Data on emergency room visits on Guam document a high freguency of snakebites on Guam. Over 50% of the emergency room visits for snakebite involved children <4 years old. Records exist of 4 infants, 1, 2, 5, and 10 months old, who displayed significant symptoms after being bitten, while sleeping, by snakes. Two infants developed respiratory problems within a few hours and required medical treatment for asphyxiation. Lethargy, diminished sensory perceptions, drooping eyelids, swelling, discoloration, and bleb formation were variable in occurrence in the patients.