Abstract

Background. In Uruguay, approximately 50 Bothrops snakebite accidents are reported each year, most commonly involving B. alternatus and B. pubescens. Beyond systemic coagulopathy, Bothrops envenomation induces marked local inflammatory damage. Infrared (IR) thermography has emerged as a noninvasive technique that does not expose patients to ionizing radiation and is capable of detecting thermal changes associated with tissue inflammation.

Objective. Describe the characteristics and semiological utility of IR imaging compared with standard photographic documentation in the monitoring of local inflammatory processes following Bothrops snakebite envenomation.

Methods. Three clinical cases of Bothrops envenomation were evaluated using high-resolution IR thermography under controlled environmental conditions. Qualitative thermal images were acquired, and Regions of Interest (ROIs) were delineated to obtain quantitative temperature measurements. Thermal asymmetry was assessed by calculating ΔT values between affected and contralateral anatomical regions.

Results. All cases exhibited localized inflammatory findings—edema, erythema, and pain—without evidence of severe systemic involvement. IR thermography demonstrated thermal asymmetries consistent with active inflammation, with the average temperature difference (ΔTaverage) values >1 °C in all patients, in line with previously reported patterns in Bothrops envenomation.

Conclusions. IR thermography provided functional, quantitative assessment of local inflammation that was not attainable through conventional photography. The ability to measure thermal gradients supports its potential role as a semiological tool to monitor local phenomena and identify areas of higher infectious or inflammatory risk in Bothrops snakebite accidents.