Clinical report of a human bite by the pelagic sea snake Hydrophis Platurus (Serpentes: Elapidae), in the pacific ocean of Costa Rica

Introduction: The pelagic sea snake, “Serpiente Marina,” Hydrophis Platurus, shows a wide-range distribution in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, reaching the Pacific coast of the Americas. Although the snake bite accidents caused by sea snakes are rare, Costa Rica occasionally presents large quantities of sea snakes stranded in the shore, mainly during the dry season. Discussion: A 12-years-old boy was bitten in Playas del Coco, Sardinal, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica, and almost immediately started to develop pain and paresthesia. A coagulation time test was performed, although its importance is not relevant to the treatment of snakebite accidents caused by sea snakes, mainly due to its neurotoxic characteristics. Conclusion: Although there is no antivenom available to treat snakebite accidents from the pelagic seasnake, its treatment is frequently misinterpreted, incurring in clinical tests that are not necessary and putting aside the tests that have more relevance to the potential clinical symptoms of the snake bite.