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Other reptile bites of significance include those of venomous lizards, alligators and crocodiles, and iguanas.

Venomous lizards: These lizards include the following:

• Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), present in the southwestern US and Mexico
• Beaded lizard (H. horridum) of Mexico

The complex venom of these lizards contains serotonin, arginine esterase, hyaluronidase, phospholipase A₂, and one or more salivary kallikreins but lacks neurotoxic components or coagulopathic enzymes. Bites are rarely fatal. When venomous lizards bite, they clamp on firmly and chew the venom into the person.

Symptoms and signs include intense pain, swelling, ecchymosis, lymphangitis, and lymphadenopathy. Systemic manifestations, including weakness, sweating, thirst, headache, and tinnitus, may develop in moderate or severe cases. Cardiovascular collapse occurs rarely. The clinical course is similar to that of a minimal to moderate envenomation by a larger species of rattlesnake.

Treatment in the field involves removing the lizard's jaws by using pliers, by applying a flame to the lizard's chin, or by immersing the animal entirely underwater. In a hospital, treatment is supportive and similar to that for pit viper envenomation; no antivenom is available. The wound should be probed with a small needle for broken or shed teeth and then cleaned. If the wound is deep, an x-ray can be taken to rule out retained a foreign body or bone fracture. Prophylactic antibiotics are usually not recommended.

Alligators and crocodiles: Bites usually result from handling, although rarely, native encounters occur. Bites are not venomous, are notable for a high frequency of soft-tissue infections by Aeromonas sp, and are generally treated as major trauma.

Wounds are irrigated and debrided; then delayed primary closure is done or the wounds are allowed to heal by secondary intention. Patients are treated preventively with clindamycin Some Trade Names
CLEOCIN
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and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole Some Trade Names
BACTRIM
SEPTRA
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(first choice) or tetracycline Some Trade Names
ACHROMYCIN V
TETRACYN
TETREX
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.

Iguanas: Bites and claw injuries are becoming more frequent as more are kept as pets. Wounds are superficial, and treatment is local. Soft-tissue infection is uncommon, but when infection occurs, Salmonella is a common cause; infection can be treated with a fluoroquinolone.

Last full review/revision February 2009 by Robert Barish, MD

Content last modified February 2009