Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 19, Issue 7 , Pages 814-816, July 1990

Anaphylactic shock secondary to rattlesnake bite

    DO
  • David E Hogan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for reprints: David E Hogan, DO, Department of Emergency Medicine, Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-5063.
    • , MD
  • Daniel J Dire

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA

Received 12 October 1989; received in revised form 1 February 1990; accepted 5 March 1990.

Anaphylactic reactions to Crotalidae envenomation are extremely rare. The presentation of anaphylaxis after envenomation can be a confusing variable in the timely diagnosis of both problems. The therapy of this dual disorder involves combining treatment of the obvious shock from the allergic reaction with a standard approach to Crotalidae envenomation. We present the case of a 22-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with urticaria, hypotension, and bronchospasm that developed immediately after his second envenomation from a rattlesnake. His symptoms resolved after administration of 0.8 mg SQ epinephrine, 100 mg IV diphenhydramine, 2,000 mL normal saline IV, and 250 mg IV methylprednisolone. Only one previous case report of anaphylactic shock from a rattlesnake bite could be found in the medical literature.

anaphylaxis, snakebite

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 The opinions or assertions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be construed as official or as representing the opinions of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

PII: S0196-0644(05)81710-X

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 19, Issue 7 , Pages 814-816, July 1990

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