Thai teen in coma after hospital allegedly dismisses snake bite as unimportant
Life-saving serum given too late to reverse damage
A hospital in the eastern province of Rayong reportedly provided inadequate treatment for a Thai man who was bitten by a snake, leaving the victim in a critical condition.
A Thai woman, Paweena Tubtimhom, took to her Facebook account on Wednesday, May 7, to criticise Wang Chan Hospital after her 18 year old employee fell into a coma due to what she described as negligent medical care.
Paweena explained that the teen was bitten at around 1am on Wednesday, and his mother rushed him to the hospital. A doctor conducted a blood test and informed the mother that no venom was detected in his system. The doctor reportedly stated…
“This is not an important case. Give him medicine and let him go home.”
The hospital provided a painkiller and disinfectant and instructed the teenager and his mother to return home. Unfortunately, at 9am, the teenager’s condition deteriorated. He was unable to speak and could not open his eyes. He was rushed back to the hospital, where venom was subsequently found in his blood.
The mother and employer later discovered that the snake was a Malayan krait, known in Thai as the Thap Samingkla snake. Its venom affects the nervous system and can be fatal.
In an interview with Channel 7, Paweena stated that the victim’s condition worsened around 8am yesterday, May 8. He was transferred to a larger hospital in the province, where he received two injections of antivenom serum. However, his condition remains unstable.
The Facebook page Drama-addict provided further information on the severity of Malayan krait venom stating…
“Malayan krait venom affects the nervous system. Symptoms include muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, inability to open the eyes, and progressive weakening of respiratory muscles, which can lead to respiratory failure and death due to lack of oxygen.”
The page added that symptoms in some victims may be delayed, as seen in this teenager’s case. Therefore, most doctors would typically keep such patients under close observation, regardless of the type of animal involved in the bite.
The doctor from the Rayong Provincial Public Health Office, Surawit Sakdanuphap, later stated at a press conference yesterday evening that the medical team at Wang Chan Hospital followed the correct procedures in treating the patient.
Surawit emphasised that staff at Wang Chan Hospital monitored the teenager’s symptoms for over two hours before advising him to return home.
When the patient was readmitted and venom was detected, the hospital immediately administered appropriate treatment and transferred him to Rayong Hospital to receive antivenom serum.
He added that he and the medical team involved would explain the situation to the patient’s mother and employer to ensure a proper understanding.
Regarding the teenager’s condition, Surawit confirmed that he is currently reliant on a respirator and remains in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, his vital signs are stable, and he is under close medical supervision.
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