Management of severe viperin envenoming

The snakebite is a severe form of envenomation. In the Maghreb, viperin syndromes result from biting by the lebetin viper (Vipera lebetina), the horned viper or the sand viper (Cerastes cerastes), and sometimes Bitis or Echis species. Clinical symptoms such as local edema are associated with haemostasis disorders and the risk of compartment syndrome and tissue necrosis. The management of snake bites is based on specific immunotherapy and medical supportive treatments. The administration of highly purified immunoglobulin improves the prognosis of envenomation, reduce morbidity and mortality, and reduce the length of the hospital stay. Envenomation of a limb can lead to a compartment syndrome. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is needed to prevent these complications.