Publications by authors named "Emelia B Santamaria"
Background: Little is known about snakebites by Naja samarensis, a species unique to the Philippines. The aim here is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients bitten by this medically important cobra in the Eastern Visayas.
Methods: A hospital-based prospective study analysed the features of snakebite patients attending Eastern Visayas Medical Center between June 2022 and May 2023.
Article Synopsis
- The Samar cobra (Naja samarensis) is a highly venomous snake found in the Eastern Visayas of the Philippines, yet there have been no clinical case reports documenting its bites in international literature.
- The need for identifying the snake responsible for envenomation in hospitals is tough due to the lack of diagnostic tests and the absence of published cases, except for the related N. philippinensis.
- This report details five cases of confirmed N. samarensis bites, highlighting varied symptoms, including local tissue damage and neurotoxic effects, with successful treatment achieved using locally produced antivenom and supportive care.