Bengaluru, (Karnataka) [India] 10th August 2026: In a dramatic race against time, medical specialists at SPARSH Hospital, Sarjapur Road, successfully saved the life of a 16-year-old boy who was brought to the intensive care unit in a near brain-dead state caused by a rare, unseen occult neurotoxic snakebite.
The teenager was rushed to SPARSH Hospital in critical condition, completely unresponsive with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3/15—the lowest possible human score. He arrived with fixed and dilated pupils, unreactive to light, absent brainstem reflexes, total body paralysis, and complete respiratory failure, surviving only on artificial ventilator support.
As per the family, his sudden collapse began the previous evening with severe abdominal pain and vomiting after dinner, followed by rapid neurological decline. Because the boy had no visible swelling, bleeding, or pain typical of a snakebite, initial medical evaluations pointed toward severe food poisoning, botulism, or acute neurological syndromes. Repeated brain scans, abdominal CTs, and toxicology panels showed no structural abnormalities, leaving his family in agonizing uncertainty.
The turning point came when the critical care team at SPARSH Hospital re-examined the sequence of events. Learning that the boy had slept on his home porch the night prior, doctors conducted a painstaking, inch-by-inch physical search of his body. Near the base of his right little toe, they uncovered two fang marks, faint punctate marks—the hidden signature of an occult neurotoxic snakebite, often inflicted silently during sleep by nocturnal species like the Common Krait.
Without losing a moment, the team immediately initiated targeted Polyvalent Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) therapy alongside advanced neuro-critical care support. Within hours, the impossible began to happen: the teenager slowly regained eye movements, followed by facial expressions, limb reflexes, and independent breathing.
“When a young patient arrives with absent brainstem reflexes and complete quadriplegia, every single second counts. Occult krait bites are notoriously deceptive because they are virtually painless and present initially as severe stomach ache, hiding the underlying neurotoxicity,” said Dr. Ramkumar Jayaprakash, HOD and Lead Consultant – Critical Care Medicine, SPARSH Hospital, Sarjapur Road. “Spotting those fang marks fang marks allowed us to act decisively. Seeing him transition from a state mimicking brain death to breathing on his own and walking again within a week is a powerful testament to early clinical vigilance, rapid critical care intervention, and aggressive multidisciplinary rehabilitation.”
Following successful extubation and structured neurorehabilitation, the teenager made a remarkable, full functional recovery. He was discharged home just one week after his ICU admission in a stable, healthy condition.
“At SPARSH Hospital, our primary focus is always on delivering rapid, precision-driven critical care when every minute determines a patient’s survival,” said Raghuram M D, Chief Operating Officer, SPARSH Hospital, Sarjapur Road. “Saving this young life from such a perilous state reflects the seamless coordination of our clinical, emergency, and critical care units. This case reinforces our unwavering commitment to providing world-class tertiary care and advanced medical expertise to the community.”
This case serves as a crucial public health reminder: sudden central abdominal pain followed by rapidly advancing muscle weakness—especially in individuals sleeping outdoors or on the floor—must be evaluated urgently for neurotoxic envenomation, even if no snake was ever seen.
About SPARSH Hospitals
SPARSH Group of Hospitals is one of Karnataka’s leading multispecialty healthcare providers, delivering advanced, technology-enabled care with a strong focus on clinical excellence, innovation, and ethical medical practice. With a network of 8 hospitals, over 1,600 beds, 600+ consultants, and 3,400+ employees, SPARSH offers comprehensive care across 50+ specialties.
Having touched over 1.5 million lives and serving patients from more than 14 countries, SPARSH Hospital continues to set benchmarks in patient outcomes while making world-class healthcare accessible across Karnataka and beyond.
