Snake bites
| Snakebite | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A rattlesnake bite on the foot of a 9-year-old girl in Venezuela | |
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
| Symptoms | Two puncture wounds, redness, swelling, severe pain at the area |
| Complications | Bleeding, kidney failure, severe allergic reaction, tissue death around the bite, breathing problems, amputation |
| Causes | Snakes |
| Risk factors | Working outside with one's hands (farming, forestry, construction) |
| Prevention | Protective footwear, avoiding areas where snakes live, not handling snakes |
| Treatment | Washing the wound with soap and water, antivenom |
| Prognosis | Depends on type of snake |
| Frequency | Up to 5 million a year |
| Deaths | ~75,000 |
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| External resources |
A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common symptom of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from the bite may occur. This may result in redness, swelling, and severe pain at the area, which may take up to an hour to appear. Vomiting, trouble seeing, tingling of the limbs, and sweating may result. Most bites are on the hands or arms.Fear following a bite is common with symptoms of a racing heart and feeling faint. The venom may cause bleeding, kidney failure, a severe allergic reaction, tissue death around the bite, or breathing problems. Bites may result in the loss of a limb or other chronic problems. The outcome depends on the type of snake, the area of the body bitten, the amount of venom injected, and the health conditions of the person. Problems are often more severe in children than adults, due to their smaller size.
Snakes bite both as a method of hunting and as a means of protection. Risk factors for bites include working outside with one's hands such as in farming, forestry, and construction. Snakes commonly involved in poisonings include elapids (such as kraits, cobras and mambas), vipers, and sea snakes. The majority of snake species do not have venom and kill their prey by squeezing them. Venomous snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Determining the type of snake that caused a bite is often not possible. The World Health Organization says snakebites are a "neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries".
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Wikipedia