Most adder bites in Finland's Lake District caused mild symptoms and severe poisoning was rare.

AIM: This study investigated the incidence, clinical picture and treatment of paediatric adder bites in Finland's Lake District.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected on all children aged 0-15 years who were bitten by adders from 2006 to 2015 and treated at Tampere University Hospital. The severity was evaluated with the five-level Poisoning Severity Score.

RESULTS

We found that 109 children were treated following an adder bite, which was an incidence of 13 per 100,000 children from 0 to 15. Of these, 75 were under 8 years of age, with a median age of 3.5 years, and 34 were 8-15 years, with a median age of 10.3 years. The gender distribution was similar in both ages. Younger children were more likely to be bitten in their yards at home, whereas older children were more likely to be bitten in a forest. Older children reported more pain than younger patients. Most children were bitten on a lower limb, with minor symptoms such as localised redness and swelling, and received conservative treatment. Antivenom treatment was rarely administered and then only in severe cases or if symptoms progressed.

CONCLUSION

Adder bites mostly caused mild symptoms, severe poisoning was rare and antivenom was rarely given.