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After a snouted cobra bit his testicles, a Dutch tourist’s relaxing South African vacation turned into a horrific nightmare.
According to the medical journal Urology Case Reports, the 47-year-old Dutchman was on vacation in a South African nature reserve. Requiring the toilet, the gentlemen sat down to answer nature’s call. However, the snake resting in the toilet bowl had a different plan for the day.
“The species was identified as a snouted cobra (Naja annulifera) and he (the victim) waited 3 hours for transport by helicopter to the nearest trauma centre (350 km). During this time, he felt a burning sensation in his genitals and a pain that ascended through his groin to his flank, upper chest, and abdomen. He also reported vomiting but no neurological symptoms,” the medical journal explains.
When he arrived at the hospital, he was hemodynamically stable, fully conscious, and had swollen genitals with a deep purple discolouration, indicating scrotal necrosis.
Necrosis occurs when bacteria infect tissue, and the human body’s blood supply fails. According to the report, necrosis can spread throughout the body and cause rot if not treated properly.
A non-specific snake venom antiserum and broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered to the Dutchman in multiple doses.
The terrified testicle traveller was also transported to intensive care, as he needed dialysis for acute kidney injury.
After the necrosis, his health and genitals remained stable. However, he was not out of the woods yet. The medical team then performed a surgical debridement, removing the dead tissue.
The medical journal does provide images, but it is important to note that they are graphic, seriously graphic. You have been warned and view them at your own choice.
To read the full report and view the images, click here.
After nine days, the patient was returned to the Netherlands for further treatment.
In addition, after being transferred to the Netherlands, his medical team removed dead tissue before successfully performing a graft on the man’s penis and scrotum, replacing the dead tissue with tissue taken from his groin.
Thankfully, the man is now on his way to a full recovery, physically.
It is safe to say that a valuable lesson can be drawn from this; Before sitting on a South African toilet in the bush, city, petrol station, just anywhere….always check the toilet for more than just cobras.
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