Snake Bite: Dr. Eman Alaa Eldin

SNAKE
Supervised by
DR. EMAN ALAA ELDIN

BITE
Prepared by
RANIA ABD ELRADY

Snakebite
Snakebite envenoming is a potentially life-threatening disease that
typically results from the injection of a mixture of different toxins
(“venom”) following the bite of a venomous snake. Envenoming can
also be caused by having venom sprayed into the eyes by certain
species of snakes that have the ability to spit venom as a defence
measure.
In simple terms, these proteins can be divided into 4 categories:
1. Cytotoxins cause lo cal tissue damage.
2. Hemotoxins cause internal bleeding.
3. Neurotoxins affect the nervous system.
Symptoms of venomous snake bites
Venomous snakes have two fangs that deliver venom when they bite.
A venomous snake bite will usually leave two clear puncture marks. In
contrast, a nonvenomous bite tends to leave two rows of teeth marks.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between puncture wounds from
venomous and nonvenomous snakes. People should seek medical
attention for all snake bites.
The typical symptoms of a venomous snake bite include:
• two puncture wounds
• swelling and pain around the bite area
• redness and bruising around the bite area
• numbness of the face, especially in the mouth
• elevated heart rate
• difficulty breathing
First Aid for a Snakebite
Any snakebite victim should go to a hospital emergency
department. Identification of the snake as venomous or
nonvenomous should not be used as criteria whether to seek
medical care. If someone can identify the type of snake, a call to the
emergency department will help the staff prepare for quick treatment
with antivenin, if needed.
• A bite from a nonvenomous snake requires proper wound care.
The patient needs a tetanus booster if he or she has not had one
within 5 years.
• Wash the wound with large amounts of soap and water. Inspect
the wound for broken teeth or dirt.
• Prevent a second bite or a second victim. Do not try to catch the
snake as this can lead to additional victims or bites. Snakes can
continue to bite and inject venom with successive bites until they
run out of venom.
• Identify or be able to describe the snake, but only if it can be done
without significant risk for a second bite or a second victim.
• Safely and rapidly transport the victim to an emergency medical
facility.
• Individuals should provide emergency medical care within the
limits of their training.
o Remove constricting items on the victim, such as rings or
other jewelry, which could cut off blood flow if the bite area
swells.
o If a person has been bitten by a dangerous elapid (for
example, sea krait [a type of sea snake], or black and yellow
sea snake) and has no major local wound effects, apply a
pressure immobilizer. This technique is mainly used for
Australian elapids or sea snakes. Wrap a bandage at the bite
site and up the extremity with a pressure at which you would
wrap a sprained ankle. Then immobilize the extremity with
a splint, with the same precautions concerning limiting
blood flow. This technique may help prevent life-
threatening systemic effects of venom, but may also worsen
local damage at the wound site if significant symptoms are
present there.
o hile applying mechanical suction (such as with a Sawyer
Extractor) has been recommended by many authorities in
the past, it is highly unlikely that it will remove any
significant amount of venom, and it is possible that suction
could actually increase local tissue damage. This technique
is, in general, no longer recommended but is still listed as a
treatment technique in many medical publications. If you
decide to try this technique, follow the instructions
carefully.
• The two guiding principles for care often conflict during
evacuation from remote areas.
o First, the victim should get to an emergency care facility as
quickly as possible, because antivenin (medicine to
counteract the poisonous effects of the snake's venom)
could be life-saving.
o Second, the affected limb should be used as little as possible
to delay absorption and circulation of the venom.
A number of old first aid techniques have fallen out of favor. Medical
research supports the following warnings:
• Do NOT cut and suck. Cutting into the bite site can damage
underlying organs, increase the risk of infection, and sucking on
the bite site does not result in venom removal.
• Do NOT use ice. Ice does not deactivate the venom and can
cause frostbite.
• Do NOT use electric shocks. The shocks are not effective and
could cause burns or electrical problems to the heart.
• Do NOT use alcohol. Alcohol may deaden the pain, but it also
makes the local blood vessels bigger, which can increase venom
absorption.
• Do NOT use tourniquets or constriction bands. These have not
been proven effective, may cause increased tissue damage, and
could cost the victim a limb.
References
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/snakebite/article_em.htm#first_aid
_for_a_snakebite
https://www.healthline.com/health/snake-bites
https://www.who.int/health-topics/snakebite#tab=tab_1
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324007.php#symptoms

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SNAKE

DR. EMAN ALAA ELDIN

RANIA ABD ELRADY

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