Snake bite poisoning in pregnancy. A review of the literature.

With our 2 cases, there are 30 reported cases in English of snake bite poisoning in pregnancy with some details presented and 20 cases without details, for a total of 50 cases. We reviewed the maternal and fetal outcomes in the 30 cases that had such information. Poisoning by members of the Crotalidae family (rattlesnakes, cotton-mouths [water moccasins] and copperheads) during pregnancy carries with it a fetal wastage rate of 43% and a maternal mortality rate of 10%. Pit viper bites cause a bleeding diathesis from the fact that the venom of these snakes contains a procoagulant that defibrinates the blood and leads to bleeding throughout the body.