Eight-Year-Old Boy Recovers From Severe Kidney Injury After Snakebite In Kurnool
The child, identified as Rithik, was bitten by a snake on his left leg while playing near his home.
Published : August 22, 2026 at 7:04 PM IST
Kurnool: An eight-year-old boy from Sanjamala village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh has recovered from severe acute kidney injury following a snakebite after receiving timely intensive care, haemodialysis and close monitoring at KIMS Cuddles, Kurnool.
The child, identified as Rithik, was bitten by a snake on his left leg while playing near his home. A tight tourniquet was applied around the affected limb for several hours, after which he was also given local traditional treatment.
Over the following 24 hours, his urine output dropped. He developed swelling across his body and rapid breathing before being brought to KIMS Cuddles, where he was evaluated and admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
According to Dr PV Ravi Kiran, Consultant Paediatric Intensivist, Rithik was diagnosed with severe acute kidney injury. His serum creatinine level was 7.5 mg/dL, while his blood urea level was 170 mg/dL. His blood pressure was also significantly elevated.
"Given the severity of the kidney injury and the marked reduction in urine output, the child required close monitoring and intensive management in the PICU," Dr Ravi Kiran said.
Haemodialysis was initiated and continued for several days, along with treatment to control his blood pressure and other supportive care. His urine output gradually improved following the intervention, and his kidney function returned to normal.
The child responded well to treatment and was discharged after his condition stabilised, and he was found to be clinically well.
Dr Ravi Kiran said snakebites can cause serious systemic complications and affect organs beyond the site of the bite. In children, symptoms such as reduced urine output, swelling, breathing difficulty, changes in blood pressure, weakness, bleeding or other unusual symptoms following a snakebite should be treated as warning signs requiring immediate medical attention.
“Children who suffer a snakebite should be taken to a hospital with emergency medical facilities as early as possible. Delaying hospital care in favour of unproven local treatments can allow serious complications to progress,” he said.
“In this child, severe kidney injury had already developed by the time he reached us. Early PICU admission, haemodialysis and comprehensive supportive care were crucial in preventing further deterioration and helping him recover,” he added.
The doctor also advised against applying tight tourniquets or using traditional remedies without medical guidance, as these practices can interfere with blood circulation and potentially cause additional complications.
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