Snakebites
Venomous snakes in the United States include pit vipers
(rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths) and coral snakes.
Severe envenomation can cause damage to the bitten
extremity, bleeding, and vital organ damage.
Venom antidote is given for serious bites.
Bites from nonpoisonous snakes rarely cause any serious
problems. About 25 species of venomous (poisonous) snakes are native to the
United States. The venomous snakes include pit vipers (rattlesnakes,
copperheads, and cottonmouths) and coral snakes.
Bites and Stings Myths
Bites and Stings MythsPODCAST
Of the roughly 45,000 snakebites that occur in the United
States each year, fewer than 8,000 are from venomous snakes, and about six
people die. Fatal snakebites are much more common outside the United States.
In about 25% of all pit viper bites, venom is not injected.
Most deaths occur in children, older people, and people who are untreated or
treated too late or inappropriately. Rattlesnakes account for about 70% of
poisonous snakebites in the United States and for almost all of the deaths.
Copperheads and, to a lesser extent, cottonmouths account for most other
poisonous snakebites. Coral snakebites and bites from imported snakes are much
less common.
The venom of rattlesnakes and other pit vipers damages
tissue around the bite. Venom may cause changes in blood cells, prevent blood
from clotting, and damage blood vessels, causing them to leak. These changes
can lead to internal bleeding and to heart, respiratory, and kidney failure.
The venom of coral snakes affects nervous system activity
but causes little damage to tissue around the bite. Most bites occur on the
hand or foot.
Did You Know...
Snakebites can be terrifying but rarely cause deaths in the
United States.
Symptoms of Snakebites
The symptoms of snake venom poisoning vary widely, depending
on the following:
The size and species of snake
The amount and toxicity of the venom injected (related to
the size and species of snake)
The bite’s location (the farther away from the head and
trunk, the less dangerous)
The person’s age (very old and very young people are at
higher risk)
The person’s underlying medical problems
Pit vipers
Bites by most pit vipers rapidly cause pain. Not all bites
inject venom, but if the wound oozes, venom was probably injected. Redness and
swelling usually follow within 30 to 60 minutes and can affect the entire leg
or arm within several hours. Moderate or severe pit viper poisoning commonly
causes bruising of the skin 3 to 6 hours after the bite. The skin around the
bite appears tight and discolored. Blisters, often filled with blood, may form
in the bite area. Without treatment, tissue around the bite may be destroyed.
Other symptoms include fever, chills, general weakness,
faintness, sweating, anxiety, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some
of these symptoms may be caused by terror rather than venom. The gums may
bleed, and blood may appear in the person’s vomit, stools, and urine. Breathing
difficulties can occur, particularly after Mojave rattlesnake bites. Some
people may have chest pain. Hours later, people may have a headache, blurred
vision, drooping eyelids, and a dry mouth.
People bitten by a rattlesnake may experience tingling and
numbness in the fingers or toes or around the mouth and a metallic or rubbery
taste in the mouth.
Coral snakes
Coral snakebites usually cause little or no immediate pain
and swelling. More severe symptoms may take several hours to develop. The area
around the bite may tingle, and nearby muscles may become weak. Muscle
incoordination and severe general weakness may follow. Other symptoms may
include double vision, blurred vision, confusion, drowsiness, increased saliva
production, and speech and swallowing difficulties. Breathing problems, which
may be extreme, may develop.
Is That a Pit Viper?
Pit vipers have certain features that can help distinguish
them from nonvenomous snakes:
Vertical slitlike pupils
Pits between the eyes and nose
Retractable fangs
Rows of single scales across the underside of the tail
Triangular heads (like an arrowhead)
Nonvenomous snakes tend to have the following:
Rounded heads
Round pupils
No pits
No fangs
Rows of double scales across the underside of the tail
If people see a snake with no fangs, they should not assume
it is nonvenomous because the fangs may be retracted.
Is That a Pit Viper?
Diagnosis of Snakebites
A doctor's evaluation
Hospitalization for observation for bites with envenomation
Emergency medical personnel must try to determine whether
the snake was poisonous, what species it was, and whether venom was injected.
The bite marks sometimes suggest whether the snake was
poisonous. The fangs of a poisonous snake usually produce one or two large
punctures, whereas the teeth of nonpoisonous snakes usually leave multiple
small rows of scratches. Without a detailed description of the snake, doctors
may have difficulty determining the particular species that caused the bite.
Envenomation is recognized by the development of
characteristic symptoms. People who are bitten by a poisonous snake are
generally kept in the hospital for observation for 6 to 8 hours to see if any
symptoms develop. Doctors do various tests to assess the effects of the venom.
Treatment of Snakebites
Bitten arm or leg is positioned at heart level and
immobilized and constricting clothing and jewelery are removed
Antivenom
First aid can be helpful before medical help arrives. People
bitten by a poisonous snake should be moved beyond the snake’s striking
distance, kept as calm and still as possible, and taken to the nearest medical
facility immediately.
The bitten limb should be loosely immobilized and kept
positioned at about heart level. Rings, watches, and tight clothing should be
removed from the area of the bite. Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided.
Tourniquets, ice packs, and cutting the bite open are not recommended because
they are potentially harmful. Applying suction to remove venom does not work.
If no venom was injected, treatment is the same as for any
puncture wound.
Venom antidote (antivenom) is the most important part of
treatment if venom was injected and symptoms indicate a serious bite. Antivenom
contains antibodies that neutralize venom’s toxic effects. It is important to
elevate the extremity as soon as the antivenom is started to minimize local
swelling. The effectiveness of antivenom depends on how soon it is given.
Antivenom is more effective when it is given within a short time after a
snakebite. It is given intravenously.
In the United States, antivenom is available for all native
poisonous snakes.
Intensive care unit treatment is required for people with
severe envenomation. People are monitored closely, and the complications of
envenomation are treated. People with low blood pressure are given fluids
intravenously. If problems with blood clotting develop, additional antivenom,
fresh frozen plasma, concentrated clotting factors (cryoprecipitate), or
platelet transfusions may be needed.
Prognosis depends on the person’s age and overall health and
on the location and venom content of the bite. Almost everyone bitten by a
poisonous snake survives if treated early with appropriate amounts of
antivenom.
Serum sickness
Pit viper antivenom is made from the serum of sheep or
horses that have been immunized with snake venom. Giving people foreign
proteins such as antibodies from sheep or horse serum sometimes triggers an
immune reaction called serum sickness.
Serum sickness causes fever, rash, and joint pains about 1
to 3 weeks after receiving the drug. Sometimes kidney damage occurs. Serum
sickness occurs in about 1 in 6 people.
- CORONA VIRUS
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- vitiligo
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- STRESS
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- INSOMNIA (SLEEPING PROBLEMS)
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- COMPONENTS OF BLOOD
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- LABORATORY TEST OF BLOOD DISORDER
- BONE MARROW EXAMINATION
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- ANIMAL BITES
- EYE BURN
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- BEST WAY TO SLEEP A CHILD
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