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A spike in the number of reported snake bites across Queensland over the festive period has left five people hospitalised.
This included a man in his 20s, who was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition following a reported snake bite in Mount Pleasant about 9.26pm Thursday.
One person was taken to Redlands Hospital following a reported snake bite in Mount Cotton on Christmas Day.
On Thursday night, another three people suffered reported snake bites in Innisfail, South Johnstone and Carrara.
All were taken to hospital in a stable condition. Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Tony Martin
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Subscriber only More than 900 people have been treated for bites and stings in Mackay Hospital and Health Service s eight emergency departments so far this year. Dog bites topped the list with 256 presentations with mammal bites exceeding insect, reptile and marine stings. Mackay is consistent with the national data that shows 80-90 per cent of bites are from dogs, with cats 5-10 per cent followed by humans and rodents 2 per cent. Mackay Base Hospital emergency medicine specialist Dr Andrew Brier said an animal bite could range from physical tissue damage needing surgery to envenomation from a bite or sting.
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Subscriber only Snake bite patients in the Mackay region have been risking death by leaving hospital against medical advice. Mackay Base Hospital Emergency Department specialist Dr Andrew Brier said worryingly some people ignored medical advice to wait until a series of blood tests were complete. Every year a number of people leave hospital against medical advice, and snake bites is probably the highest percentages of these cases, he said. Dr Brier said some species such as black snakes could cause life-threatening blood abnormalities and no other symptoms. Hospital protocol is for blood to be taken at admission, then an hour after removal of the pressure immobilisation bandage and then at six and 12 hours after.