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Different Types of Snake Bites, Signs and Symptoms & General Measures to be followed when Snake Bites

To decide whether or not the bite of snake is poisonous is by looking at fang marks. If fang marks are visible then it is a poisonous snake. The fang mark could be like a needle prick, or rows of teeth marks, or ragged tear at the site of wound.

Three Common Types Of Snakes.

·          Haematotoxic (toxins that effects Blood ex. destroying RBC etc) 

                         Ex. Viper snake 

·         Neurotoxic (toxins that is poisonous to nerve tissue)

                          Ex. Cobra snake 

·         Both haematotoxic and neurotoxic

                         Ex. Krait snake 

Signs of Snake Bite:         

Cobra Snake bite (Neurotoxic): 

 

cobra snake  

 Main Signs:

  · Muscle weakness in the form of falling of the upper eye lid, external paralysis of eye muscles causing double vision, Difficulty in swallowing, difficulty in speaking may occur later leads to complete paralysis.

  ·   Difficulty in coughing or breathing indicates severe poisoning and may not appear 10 hours after the bite, Respiratory paralysis may occur which leads to death.

Additional features:

   ·   Pain at the site of bite, there may be pain also in abdomen as well as diarrhea may occur.

·         Local swelling may also present.

·         Vomiting, hypotension and collapse may also occur.

 

Falling of the upper eye lids after cobra snake bite

Russels viper snake bite (haematotoxic):

Russel viper snake

   ·  Pain and swelling starts almost immediately but may not develop up to 2 hours after the bite.

   ·   Increase in local swelling which may become severe/ massive after 2-3 days with bruising.

    · Vomiting, hypotension and abnormal bleeding from or into any site may occur within 15 minutes. Untreated shock and Hemorrhage may our up to a week after the bite.

    ·  Blister formation around the site and spreading blister suggests a large dose of venom, this may precede to death. Tissue death at site of bite presents often offensive and rotten smell.

  ·         Patient may develop decreased urine output, And subsequently overt renal failure

Swelling after Russels viper snake bite

General Measures to be followed when snake Bites

• According to standard treatment guidelines of India, keep the surroundings quiet; do not move the bitten part. Because the more it is moved faster the poison will spread through the body.
• If the bite is on the foot, the person should not walk at all.
• Wrap the bitten area with a wide bandage or clean cloth to slow the spread of poison. Wind the bandage over the hand or foot, and up the whole arm or leg very still, wrap it tightly but not so tight that it stops the pulse at the wrist or on the top of the foot. If you cannot feel the pulse loosen the bandage a little.
• Then put on splint to prevent the limb from moving. Keep the wounded part below the level of heart.
• Also, ice helps to reduce pain and slow the poison. Wrap the arm or leg with a plastic sheet and thick cloth. The pack crushed ice around it (too much cold can damage the skin. If it gets soo cold it aches, let the person decide when to remove ice for few minutes.
• Transport the person, to nearest centre which has anti snake venom and start on an adequate dose at once. If severe signs of envenomation are present give anti-snake venom (ASV) before one transports the patient further to CHC give paracetamol, not aspirin for pain.
• If respiratory paralysis is imminent (low single breath count) accompany the patient, keeping an Ambu's bag and face mask ready.

  

Ambu's bag

                

[People often believe that all snakes are poisonous. DO NOT KILL NON-POISONOUS SNAKES, because they do no harm. On the contrary, they kill mice and other pests that do a lot of damage. Some even kill poisonous snakes. Even poisonous snakes are not to be killed except in defending ourselves, for they too play a very useful role in nature.]