Snake bites

Snake bites

Snake bites are a potentially life-threatening emergency, depending on the type of snake, the venom, and the amount ingested.

Causes
- Caused by the bite of a venomous snake, such as a cobra, king cobra, banded viper, or green pit viper.
- There are many types of snake venom, including:
- Neurotoxicity → causes muscle weakness and difficulty breathing
- Hemotoxicity → causes easy bleeding and poor blood coagulation
- Muscle toxicity → causes muscle breakdown and kidney failure

Symptoms
1. Local symptoms: pain, swelling, fang marks, bleeding
2. General symptoms: nausea, dizziness, fatigue
3. Severe symptoms:
- Drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing (neurotoxic snakes)
- Easy bleeding, blood spots on the body, blood in the urine (hemorrhagic snakes)
- Dark urine, kidney failure (muscle venom snakes)

Diagnosis
- History of snake bites and snake characteristics (if remembered)
- Examine fang marks, swelling, bleeding
- Blood tests: blood coagulation, kidney function, muscle enzymes
- In some cases, a simple 20-minute whole blood clotting test is used.

Treatment
1. Immediate First Aid
- Immediately move away from the snake → Do not run.
- Lie still and reduce limb movement.
- Use a bandage or splint to immobilize the snake.
- Do not incise the wound, suction out venom, or apply a tourniquet.
2. In the hospital
- Assess the symptoms and administer antivenom according to the snake type and symptoms.
- Treat symptomatically: Intubate, provide IV fluids, and give blood/platelet transfusions if necessary.
- Monitor for serum allergies.

Should or shouldn't:

- Do: Immediately transport to the hospital. Maintain stillness. Recognizing the snake's appearance will help the doctor select the correct serum.
*Should not: Incise the wound, suction out venom, use herbal or folk remedies, or apply a tourniquet too tightly.



Summary
Snakebites are dangerous and require proper first aid and prompt hospitalization for serum and appropriate treatment.