Management of Snakebite – an Overview
Abstract
It has been estimated that 5 million snakebites occur worldwide each year, causing about 125,000
deaths. Snakebites are more common in tropical regions and in areas that are primarily agricultural.1,2
Bites by venomous snakes, result in a wide range of effects; from simple puncture wounds to lifethreatening
illness and death. In view of our experiences while working as medical officer in government
hospitals and as private medical practitioner while managing case of snake bite the allay and
anxiety faced by patients of snakebite gave us an impetus to overview clinical signs and symptoms,
first aid measures, medical management and preventive aspects while treating patients of snake bite.
References
1) Chu E, Weinstein SA, White J, Warrell DA. Venom opthalmia caused by venoms of spitting elapid and other snakes: Review of ten cases with review of epidemiology, clinical
features, pathophysiology and management. Toxicon. 2010 Mar: 21.
2) Alirol E, Sharma SK, Bawaskar HS, Kuch U, Chappuis F. Snake bite in South Asia: a review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2010 Jan 26;4(1):603.
3) Young, D. (1999). “Ophiophagus hannah”. Animal Diversity Web. “the King Cobra is undoubtedly a very dangerous snake (“Behavior” section)
4) Warrell DA. Snake Bite. Lancet. 2010 Jan 2; 375 (9708):77-88.
5) Schaeffer S, Badillo RB. Poison control therapy. Am J Nurs. 2009 Dec;109(12):42-5. Weinstein S, Dart R, Staples A, White J. Envenomations: an overview of clinical toxicology for the primary
care physicians. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Oct 15; 80(8):793-802.
6) Watrell DA. Commissioned article: management of exotic snake bites. QJM. 2009 Sep;l02(9):593-601.
7) Snake-bite First-aid. Available from http:// www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-snakebites
8) Cruz LS, Vargas R, Lopes AA. Snakebite envenomation and death in developing world. Ethn Dis. 2009 Spring;l9(1 Suppl l):Sl-42-6.
9) Gutierrez JM, Lomonte B, Leon G, Alape-Giron A, Flores-Diaz M, Sanz L, et al. Snake venomics and antivenomics: Proteomic tools in the design and control of antivenom for the treatment of snakebite envenoming. J Proteomics. 2009 Mar 6;72(2): 165-82.
10)Isbister GK. Procoagulant snake toxins: laboratory studies, diagnosis and understanding snakebite coagulopathy. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009 Feb;35(1):93-103.
11)Silva A, Gunawardena P and Gawarammana I. Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: Hypnale). BioMed Central. 2012 Aug 29;5:471.
features, pathophysiology and management. Toxicon. 2010 Mar: 21.
2) Alirol E, Sharma SK, Bawaskar HS, Kuch U, Chappuis F. Snake bite in South Asia: a review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2010 Jan 26;4(1):603.
3) Young, D. (1999). “Ophiophagus hannah”. Animal Diversity Web. “the King Cobra is undoubtedly a very dangerous snake (“Behavior” section)
4) Warrell DA. Snake Bite. Lancet. 2010 Jan 2; 375 (9708):77-88.
5) Schaeffer S, Badillo RB. Poison control therapy. Am J Nurs. 2009 Dec;109(12):42-5. Weinstein S, Dart R, Staples A, White J. Envenomations: an overview of clinical toxicology for the primary
care physicians. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Oct 15; 80(8):793-802.
6) Watrell DA. Commissioned article: management of exotic snake bites. QJM. 2009 Sep;l02(9):593-601.
7) Snake-bite First-aid. Available from http:// www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-snakebites
8) Cruz LS, Vargas R, Lopes AA. Snakebite envenomation and death in developing world. Ethn Dis. 2009 Spring;l9(1 Suppl l):Sl-42-6.
9) Gutierrez JM, Lomonte B, Leon G, Alape-Giron A, Flores-Diaz M, Sanz L, et al. Snake venomics and antivenomics: Proteomic tools in the design and control of antivenom for the treatment of snakebite envenoming. J Proteomics. 2009 Mar 6;72(2): 165-82.
10)Isbister GK. Procoagulant snake toxins: laboratory studies, diagnosis and understanding snakebite coagulopathy. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009 Feb;35(1):93-103.
11)Silva A, Gunawardena P and Gawarammana I. Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: Hypnale). BioMed Central. 2012 Aug 29;5:471.
Published
2019-11-28
How to Cite
Dr Nitin John, John NA. (2019). Management of Snakebite – an Overview. The Indian Practitioner, 67(3), 167-170. Retrieved from https://articles.theindianpractitioner.com/index.php/tip/article/view/885
Section
Review article
