Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A seven-year-old girl from Buriram narrowly escaped death after being bitten by a highly venomous snake while playing hide-and-seek near her relative’s house. The child was fortunate to receive medical treatment just in time after being transferred to a provincial hospital.

 

The incident occurred on the morning of 30 April, when young Smile, a 7-year-old girl, was playing hide-and-seek with her younger brother and friends in an overgrown garden near her relative’s home in Ban Nong Wa, Nong Waeng subdistrict. While hiding beneath a longan tree surrounded by thick vegetation, she was bitten on the middle finger of her left hand by a snake later identified as a Malayan krait (known locally as ngoo thap samingkhla), one of the most venomous species in Thailand.

 

The child’s grandmother, Mrs. Jumphathong Namsanga, 53, was nearby caring for another grandchild when the younger brother ran to inform her of the bite. Mrs. Jumphathong quickly brought Smile to the local health centre, located less than a kilometre away.

 

Medical staff there recommended urgent transfer to the district hospital. Although Smile was showing signs of fatigue and pain, she remained conscious and responsive. Her mother, Ms. Panadda, 30, who had been working in the fields, rushed home and drove her daughter 12 kilometres on a motorbike to Lahan Sai Hospital.

 

However, Lahan Sai Hospital had no antivenom available, nor did the nearby Nang Rong Hospital. As a result, the medical team arranged an immediate emergency transfer to Buriram Provincial Hospital.

 

Thanks to the child’s clear description of the snake’s black and white markings, doctors quickly identified the species and administered the appropriate antivenom. Medical staff confirmed that the Malayan krait’s venom can be fatal if not treated promptly.

 

The girl’s condition has since stabilised, and doctors have discharged her with instructions to monitor for side effects over the next week. A follow-up check will confirm whether any venom remains in her system.

 

Following the incident, the family has urged other parents to remain vigilant, especially in areas with dense vegetation. The girl’s grandmother has since cleared the overgrown area to prevent similar incidents in the future.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-02.

 

 

 

 

That would definitely scare me away from snakes forever. I’m surprised though that the local hospitals didn’t have any antivenom. 

24 minutes ago, jcmj said:

That would definitely scare me away from snakes forever. I’m surprised though that the local hospitals didn’t have any antivenom. 

I'd be surprised if they did....

The snake would not be killed if seen of course

32 minutes ago, jcmj said:

That would definitely scare me away from snakes forever. I’m surprised though that the local hospitals didn’t have any antivenom. 

Probably because antivenom can be expense, have limited shelf life and will have specific storage requirements. Bites from a Malayan krait are fairly rare.

 

Also antivenins are usually developed for particular species or groups of snakes. Some are monovalent (for one species), while others can be polyvalent (covering multiple species common to a region).

 

Most small local hospitals will rely on the larger provincial hospitals, which are better equipped and cover a larger population, so there is a good chance of a turn over of the antivenom.

 

I believe the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (QSMI) of the Thai Red Cross Society is the only snake antivenom manufacturer in Thailand.

 

Hope she makes a full recovery, it sounds like she will.

 

I wonder if she won her game of hide-and-seek?  

25 minutes ago, proton said:

The snake would not be killed if seen of course

Hopefully not.

1 hour ago, proton said:

The snake would not be killed if seen of course

Well, sorry to be so straightforward, but you definitely seem knowing nothing about Thai people, of course they would kill that snake!

So many things wrong here. No anti venom, mother had to transport daughter to seek it out and not admitted for observation. Crazy.

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Thanks to the child’s clear description of the snake’s black and white markings

Smart and calm.

I'm surprised they don't have any anti-venom at the local hospitals. Because most have a shelf-life of five years or longer. There's really no excuse not to have it nearby