Snakebite

Snakebite
A bite on a finger from a Montpellier snake
Classification and external resources
Specialty	Emergency medicine
ICD-10	T63.0, T14.1, W59 (nonvenomous), X20 (venomous)
ICD-9-CM	989.5, E905.0, E906.2
DiseasesDB	29733
MedlinePlus	000031
eMedicine	med/2143
MeSH	D012909
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A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake. It often results in two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes poisoning 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 worse in children than adults.

Snakes bite both as a method of hunting and as a means of protection. Risk factors for bites include working outside with one's hand such as in farming, forestry, and construction. Snakes commonly involved in poisonings include the elapids, 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 lists snakebite as a neglected disease.

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