Family of California toddler bitten by deadly snake charged $300K for life-saving antivenom

Brigland 'Brigs' Pfeffer had conscionable turned 2 erstwhile his parents were faced pinch nan very existent chance he could die.

The small boy was playing successful his San Diego, California backyard erstwhile he ran to his mom yelling he had been bitten by a snake.

His mom, Lindsay Pfeffer, said she could only spot nan 'smallest small drop' of humor connected his correct manus betwixt his scale and thumb fingers.  

But nan reality was that a deadly dose of venom was quickly circulating done his mini assemblage - and nan antivenom to prevention his life would costs astir $300,000.

The family was going to spell to their nearest urgent attraction but a 911 dispatcher told to them to hold for an ambulance because urgent cares don't banal antivenom.

Mrs Pfeffer, told local CBS8: 'He was laying down connected nan sidewalk retired successful beforehand [of nan house] conscionable flat; conscionable sweating and he wasn't moving.'

The ambulance rushed nan toddler to Palomar Medical Center Escondido 25 minutes away, nan nearest installation pinch antivenom, marking wherever nan poison was walking up his arm.

But erstwhile they arrived astatine nan hospital, doctors couldn't commencement an IV to present nan antidote because snake venom constricts veins and makes entree difficult, truthful doctors had to drill into Brigs' limb to administer nan antivenom.

Mrs Pfeffer said: 'I thought he was going to die; we each thought he was going to dice and moreover nan doctors thought he was going to die. 

'When they started to put nan pads connected to daze him and I saw his humor unit going down... we knew it wasn't good. 

'His full limb was achromatic and I was for illustration "I don't want his past representation to beryllium maine screaming."' 

Once stabilized, Brigs was transferred to Rady Children's Hospital wherever he stayed successful nan intensive attraction portion for respective days, but doctors were still unsure if he would survive. 

His mom added: 'Nobody understands really he is alive.'

Antivenom is astir effective erstwhile administered wrong 24 hours, but experts accent contiguous attraction is vital. 

It often takes much than a twelve vials of antivenom to dainty a snakebite, typically costing thousands per vial. 

The median number per diligent is 18 vials, Dr Michelle Ruha, an emergency room expert successful Arizona and erstwhile president of nan American College of Medical Toxicology, told The Washington Post. 

Brigs required much than 30 vials to dainty his Southern Pacific Rattlesnake bite, and aft respective days of treatment, nan toddler was sent location to proceed his recovery. 

While nan venom is nary longer a threat and nan swelling successful his manus and limb has decreased, Brigs' mom says he's go a lefty arsenic nervus harm and scar insubstantial person near him incapable to usage his erstwhile ascendant correct hand.

Rattlesnake bites are comparatively rare, pinch astir 8,000 group being bitten by immoderate benignant of venomous snake yearly, but CBS8 reported rattlesnake sightings are connected nan emergence crossed San Diego County, according to region data. 

The area has received 99 calls related to snake sightings betwixt May 2019 and May 2024.  

The bites lead to terrible symptom and swelling astatine nan spot wherever it occurred and tin origin excessive bleeding, arsenic good arsenic nausea and swelling successful nan throat, making it difficult to breathe.

The venom successful snakes’ fangs damages tissues and affects nan circulatory strategy by destroying tegument and humor cells, starring to soul bleeding.

Mortality rates vary, but decease is reasonably rare, ranging from 3 percent without antivenom and 0.3 percent pinch nan treatment.

However, location tin beryllium superior lasting complications from a bite, including insubstantial loss, deformity aliases nonaccomplishment of immoderate bodily function, depending wherever nan wound is.

Despite Brigs being retired of nan woods, nan Pfeffers' ordeal wasn't over. Soon aft returning home, his family received a measure for $297,461, pinch nan antivenom accounting for $213,278.  

The Post reported that Brigs received Anavip antivenom astatine 2 different hospitals that charged 2 different prices.  

Palomar, wherever emergency staffers treated nan boy, charged $9,574 per vial, totaling $95,746 for nan starting dose of 10 vials of Anavip.

Then Rady's, nan largest pediatric infirmary connected nan westbound coast, charged $5,876 for each vial of nan 20 Brigs received there, totaling $117,532.

Most insurances don't screen antivenom aliases reimburse astatine a value acold little than what hospitals complaint patients. 

Brigs' security institution was yet capable to discuss down nan value of nan antivenom by tens of thousands of dollars and nan family paid $7,200 successful nan end. 

However, security did not screen 1 of Brigs' 2 ambulance transports, which is being billed for an further $11,300.