[Haemorrhagic Stroke after Snakebite Envenomation Resulting in Irreversible Blindness in a 6-Year-Old Child in Mali].

Abstract

Introduction: Snakebite envenomation can cause serious damage. Here, we report the case of a six-year-old male child bitten by a snake.

Clinical description: The child presented a gingivorrhagia, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting and severe headache from a snakebite. Neurological examination showed paralysis of the III cranial nerve associated with bilateral blindness and mydriasis, unreactive on the right. The brain scan revealed a left frontal hematoma. The course on antivenom was marked by the disappearance of clinical signs except blindness which remained 18 months after discharge.

Discussion - conclusion: The hemorrhagic syndrome evoked viper bite. Blindness is rarely seen as a result of viperine envenomation. In our case, the presence of intracranial hypertension, absence of ocular lesions and scanner were in favor of compression of the optic nerves which resulted in permanent blindness.