Lizard Envenomation Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Robert L Norris, MD; Chief Editor: Rick Kulkarni, MD   more...
 
Updated: Dec 14, 2011
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert L Norris, MD  Professor, Department of Surgery, Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center

Robert L Norris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, California Medical Association, International Society of Toxinology, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mark S Slabinski, MD, FACEP, FAAEM  Vice President, EMP Medical Group

Mark S Slabinski, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, and Ohio State Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD  Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

A Antoine Kazzi  MD, Deputy Chief of Staff, American University of Beirut Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

A Antoine Kazzi is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

References

  1. Mebs D. Clinical toxicology of Helodermatidae lizard bites. In: Handbook of Clinical Toxicology of Animal Venoms and Poisons. 1995: 361-366.

  2. Piacentine J, Curry SC, Ryan PJ. Life-threatening anaphylaxis following gila monster bite. Ann Emer Med. 1986;15:959-961. [Medline].

  3. Bou-Abboud CF, Kardassakis DG. Acute myocardial infarction following a Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum cinctum) bite. West J Med. 1988;148(5):577-579. [Medline].

  4. Preston CA. Hypotension, myocardial infarction, an coagulopathy following gila monster bite. J Emer Med. 1989;7:37-40. [Medline].

  5. Brown DE, Carmony NB. Gila Monster: Facts and Folklore of America's Aztec Lizard. 1991;1-126.

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  9. Kunkel DB, Curry SC, Vance MV, Ryan PJ. Reptile envenomations. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1983-84;21(4-5):503-26. [Medline].

  10. McNally J, Boesen K, Boyer L. Toxicologic information resources for reptile envenomations. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. May 2008;11(2):389-401, viii. [Medline].

  11. Miller MF. Gila monster envenomation. Ann Emerg Med. May 1995;25(5):720. [Medline].

  12. Russell FE. Snake Venom Poisoning. Scholium International, Inc;1983:1-562.

  13. Stahnke HL, Heffron WA, Lewis DL. Bite of the Gila monster. Rocky Mt Med J. Sep 1970;67(9):25-30. [Medline].

  14. Streiffer RH. Bite of the venomous lizard, the Gila monster. Postgrad Med. Feb 1 1986;79(2):297-9, 302. [Medline].

  15. Strimple PD, Tomassoni AJ, Otten EJ. Report on envenomation by a Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) with a discussion of venom apparatus, clinical findings, and treatment. Wilderness Environ Med. May 1997;8(2):111-6. [Medline].

 
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A Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). Photo by Holly McNally.
Close-up of the head of a Gila monster. Clearly evident is the bulging musculature of the jaws, which gives this animal a tenacious bite. Photo by Holly McNally.
The dentition of a Gila monster. The grooved surfaces of the teeth are evident. These grooves allow for venom movement from the venom glands into the victim's tissues. Photo by Michael Cardwell.
A Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). Photo by Michael Cardwell.
 
 
 
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