Both women have been discharged and their health is not in danger, RAKUS said later on Monday.
The European adder (Vipera berus) is the only venomous snake found in Latvia. They are rather common. The snakes are deaf, but they feel vibrations very well and try to hide if threatened. Therefore, the first thing to do to avoid encountering an adder is to run, jump, kick the ground, etc. When going into meadows or forests, it is important to wear sturdy clothing, boots above the ankles and gloves, if possible, said Roberts Stašinskis, head of the Intensive Care Clinic at the Eastern Hospital.
Adder venom consists of many biologically active components, each of which has different effects on different organ systems. The most important is the haemotoxic effect, i.e. on the circulatory system, Stašinskis said.
After an adder bite, Stašinskis explained, symptoms start early with local pain at the site of the bite, where swelling may develop. Early gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and colic in the abdomen are possible, while in severe cases of poisoning, shock is observed - a rapid drop in blood pressure, marked weakness, fainting, and sweating.
In more severe cases, even impaired consciousness may begin, and respiratory problems may follow.
The bite site most often shows two punctures from the snake's teeth. If the adder has already spent its venom before the bite and has not yet had time to regenerate, poisoning will not occur. However, at the time of the event, no one knows. Most often, the venom is injected into the person's body, and then the manifestations of poisoning begin, the hospital explained.
In the case of poisoning, local swelling can increase and spread for up to 72 hours, hemorrhagic and even necrotic skin changes are possible.
If bitten by an adder, calm should be maintained. Try to keep the bitten part of the body still.
The bitten area should not be squeezed, sucked, cut or otherwise handled, as these contribute to the spread of the venom and the addition of infection. Cooling may be applied topically. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Any victim should be observed in a medical facility for eight to twelve hours.
Particular care should be taken in people with a history of anaphylaxis or shock reaction.
Snakebite patients are not frequently admitted to the Eastern Hospital - on average no more than five patients per year in recent years.
Thanks to high-quality treatment, there have also been no deaths in Europe in recent years.
