Alcohol and a snake. Two unlikely companions in the dark, yet both played a role in the mysterious arrival of Vitthal (name changed) to the emergency room of our hospital. Two days ago.
It was well past midnight when Vitthal, consumed by alcohol, began to babble about a snake. In the quiet of his village home, he had drunk more than his share. He was incoherent and confused before trying to rest. Suddenly, he awoke with a start, claiming to have seen a snake slither across the floor and vanish.
The family searched for the snake diligently. No serpent was to be found, nor were there any signs of a biteโno swelling, no bleeding, nothing.
Initially, his family blamed the alcohol. They brushed off his claims as hallucinations. This was familiar story for them. They’d seen it all too often. However, as the night wore on, Vitthal’s condition worsened. His speech slurred, his breathing labored, and his eyes grew heavy. Concerned, his family rushed him to the nearest health center, where he was diagnosed with an alcohol-induced neurological disorder.
It was well past midnight when he arrived in our ICU. Our young physicians surrounded him, employing a Sherlockian approach to connect the dots. They noted the peculiar circumstancesโmidnight, sleeping on the floor, absence of typical snake bite symptoms. The mystery was solved. Could this be the work of a krait, a nocturnal snake known for its stealthy attacks and vicious venom?
Acting swiftly, they administered anti-snake venom and nerve-restoring medications. A mechanical ventilator aided his breathing. Miraculously, within hours, Vitthal’s eyes regained their clarity, and he no longer needed the ventilator. As he was transferred to the ward, however, another battle loomedโalcohol withdrawal.
In the dead of night, when fatigue threatened to cloud their judgment, these sleep-deprived junior doctors rose to the occasion. Their keen instincts and quick thinking not only identified the true culprit but also spared a life on the brink.
Kudos to these tireless heroes who, despite the late hour and their own fatigue, emerged victorious in the fight against the shadows. They ensured that dawn would bring not mourning but the promise of a new day for Vitthal.
Only if he stays away from the alcohol bottle.
