Snake Bite

Overview

Snake Bite is caused by a bite of either a venomous or non venomous snake. Bite from a non venomous snake is often not dangerous whereas bite from a venomous snake leads to life-threatening condition that typically results from the injection of the snake venom into the body.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain, Swelling, Bleeding, Fever, Numbness, Difficulty breathing, Increased heart rate, Muscle weakness, Nausea, Vomiting, Fainting, Convulsions

Common Causes

Handling snakes, Attempting to capture reptiles in the wild

Risk Factors

Farmers working in paddy field, Living near forests or jungle

Investigation Techniques

Examination of the bitten area, Identification of the snake (if found), Full blood count, Serum electrolytes, Urine analysis, Electrocardiography (ECG)

Treatment and Prevention

Airway support, Antivenom, IM adrenaline, Tetanus vaccine, Cleaning and dressing of the wound

Authorship

Written By

Dr Sri Viknarajan

MD (Universiti Hasanuddin, Indonesia)

Reviewed By

Dr Nur Syuhada binti Zulkifli

MD, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Information Updated on : Wed Feb 12 2020 16:04:06 GMT+0800 (Malaysia Time)

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