Snake Bite - Symptoms And Treatments -First Aid For a Snake Bite

Snake Bite - Symptoms And Treatments -First Aid For a Snake Bite 

Snake Bite

1.      Snakes are reptiles that have teeth in their jaws (hence the name). They have no upper jaw bone, but they do have strong cheek muscles which enable them to open their mouth wide. This makes them perfect at biting and catching prey, like small mammals, birds and even other snakes. There are over 1,000 species of venomous snakes out there, including cobras, rattlesnakes, copperheads, mambas and coral snakes.

2.      Venom is a poison produced by some animals. It’s not meant to kill humans, it's just a defense mechanism against being eaten by predators. A single bite from a poisonous snake can cause death due to heart failure, kidney failure or breathing problems.

3.      Snake bites are rare, but they are dangerous because venom contains various chemicals that produce life-threatening symptoms. Symptoms of a snake bite include intense pain, swelling, blisters, vomiting blood, weakness, muscle paralysis, headaches, fainting and fever.

4.      Snake venom is injected into the victim through the fangs of the snake. When a person is bitten, he may feel immediate pain, followed by numbness and tingling in his hands and feet and sometimes nausea. If the bite involves a major artery, the victim could die.

5.      In the United States, most snake bites occur in rural areas where people hunt, hike and camp. People who live near bodies of water are especially vulnerable since many types of venomous snakes use rivers, lakes and streams for hunting.

6.      Snake bites can happen anywhere, anytime. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were about 21,700 cases of non-fatal snakebites reported from 2000 to 2010. Most victims suffered minor injuries, while only 1 percent required hospitalization.

How Snake Venom can kill you

Snake venom is a mixture of toxins produced by the snakes' glands that causes death after being injected into the body. It contains at least 50 different substances, some are enzymes, while others work together to create toxic effects. These toxins damage various organs of the body, including heart, liver, kidney, lungs, pancreas, muscles, nerves and brain. Even though humans have developed methods to treat snake bites, but not all patients respond well to treatment. Snake bite cases sometimes end up leaving behind permanent disabilities.

Snake Bite can cause bleeding

Bleeding can occur following a snake bite and may lead to death if not treated immediately. Snake venom can affect blood coagulation (the process that stops blood from clotting), causing bleeding. This results in weakness and loss of consciousness. Snake venom has been used to make anti-coagulants (drugs) to help prevent blood clots. However, these drugs do not always stop bleeding if administered too late.

Snake Bite can cause swelling

If your bitten by a rattlesnake, then it's likely you'll experience swelling around the area where the fangs penetrated your skin. Swelling usually begins to appear within 5 minutes of a bite and reaches its peak about 2 hours later. If left untreated, swelling can become life threatening.

Symptoms 

Snake Bite Symptoms is a condition caused when a human. Symptoms include pain, inflammation, red marks, blisters, swelling, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tingling, weakness and chills. They may not appear immediately after the snake attack, but they are usually present within a few hours after the bite occurred. Their appearance indicates that venom has been injected into the bloodstream of your beloved companion. These symptoms can be easily identified if you know them. Below we have listed some of the most common ones.      

Injection site swelling

The area around the wound will swell and turn red and warm. This is due to the blood clotting at the damaged area.

Swelling of lips

Swelling of lips is often caused by a lack of water intake. If this happens, your pet will look dry and thirsty.

Choking

Snake Bite Choking

When snake bites happen, they can cause a lot of damage to the body. When someone gets bitten by a poisonous snake, he/she could experience heart attack, respiratory failure, shock, stroke, kidney failure, loss of consciousness, etc. You should immediately seek medical help if you get bit by a poisonous snake, no matter how bad it feels at that moment.

Nature of Snake venom

1.      Snake venom can damage the blood vessels and cause internal bleeding. It also contains various toxic substances that may cause swelling and inflammation.

2.      A viper’s fangs are covered with sharp hard spines, which penetrate into the victim’s skin. These spines contain a neurotoxin that causes muscle paralysis and eventually death. This toxin is responsible for the symptoms of a snakebite, including pain, numbness, tingling, and swollen muscles.

3.      Some species of snakes have a neurotoxic substance in their saliva called cardiotoxin. Cardiotoxin works just like the venomous poison.

4.      Another poisonous substance present in snake's body is hemotoxin. Hemotoxin has many effects on the human body, but the most common effect is to cause severe bleeding from small capillaries. Hemotoxins act as a coagulant, preventing platelets from forming clots.

5.      There are about 3000 different kinds of venoms in the world according to some studies. Among these venoms, approximately 20 are fatal.

6.      Venom from certain types of spiders can also lead to poisoning, even though they don't inject any toxins directly into the bloodstream. Spiders produce a sticky fluid containing venom at the tip of their legs. When this liquid contacts a person, it gets absorbed through the skin and enters the bloodstream.

Snake bite First Aid

·         As soon as possible apply pressure to the wound to stop bleeding. If you can not do this yourself then seek medical help immediately.

·         Do NOT use ice cubes, alcohol or other chemicals to decrease swelling.

·         DO attempt to clean the area thoroughly using soap and water.

·         Try to keep the bitten area below the level of your heart.

·         Avoid licking, biting or scratching at the wound. This could spread the venom further into your body.

·         When indoors, avoid sleeping near windows or vents where snakes may enter.

·         Get medical attention right away. Do not leave the injured person until he or she has been evaluated by a doctor.

·         Seek medical attention immediately.

·         Drink plenty of fluids.

·         Report the incident to your local health department.

·         Take care of yourself - don't overdo it!

In conclusion, a snakebite can happen anywhere, so it's important to know what to look out for, and how to treat any injuries.

If you're lucky enough to survive the initial onslaught, then get medical help right away. It's best to go directly to a hospital emergency room rather than waiting until you feel okay. An adult usually needs 10 vials of anti-venom serum to neutralize the effects of a poisonous snakebite.

 

People who live in rural areas often lack access to antivenin serums. In fact, many doctors refuse to treat a patient unless they've received at least 5 vials of anti-serum. Another problem is that the vials of anti-snake venom serum are extremely expensive. They cost anywhere between $10 and $100 each.