ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2025;42(1):128-137

Case report

UDC:616‑001.49:598.126.6
DOI: 10.5937/afmnai42-49903

Running title: Winter Viper Bite

A Severe Case of Snakebite Envenoming by
Vipera ammodytes in Winter

Slađana Pavić¹, Sonja Nikolić^2,3

¹General Hospital Užice, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Užice, Serbia
²University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
³Serbian Herpetological Society “Milutin Radovanović”, Belgrade, Serbia

SUMMARY

Introduction. Venomous snakebites in Serbia are neither too frequent nor extremely dangerous. Nevertheless, some can lead to complications or even death.
Case report. On December 24, 2023, a young man was admitted to hospital after being bitten by a snake, believed to be Vipera ammodytes. He was in a state of shock, unconscious, with unmeasurable blood pressure. Having received the proper treatment, the patient fully recovered.
Conclusion. The case described herein was the most severe clinical manifestation resulting from snakebite treated in the Užice General Hospital thus far and one of the most severe among the rare published cases of snakebites in Serbia. In our country, barely any information is available regarding venomous snake bites, so every peculiar case should be made public. We consider publishing this case even more important because it occurred at the beginning of winter when snakes should be inactive. To ensure better prevention and more efficient treatment of snakebites, appropriate transdisciplinary education has to be provided both to laypeople and medical workers.

 Keywords: Vipera ammodytes, shock, snake, treatment

Corresponding author:

Sonja Nikolić

e-mail: sonjadj@bio.bg.ac.rs