Poisonous Snake Bites - First Aid For Snake / Viper Bites

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 02:10

Poisonous snake bites

Snakes are ubiquitous, so wherever a person is, he can be attacked by them. Poisonous snakes are especially dangerous. Although the degree of aggressiveness for a person in relation to this property differs depending on their specific type. On the territory of Russia and adjacent states, vipers and snakes are most common. It should be noted right away that the latter are not dangerous for people. Moreover, they never attack first, crawling to a safe distance for them. The snake can only be attacked if you deliberately tease him.

The situation is completely different with vipers and other types of poisonous snakes, since they are initially aggressive. This should be borne in mind as soon as you notice them. It is better to bypass them, since the presence of a person or an animal is quite enough to provoke an attack. Sometimes it happens that the very moment of the bite goes unnoticed, and you realize this only after you feel worse.

Content:

• Snake bite symptoms
• Why is the bite of specific types of poisonous snakes dangerous?
• First aid for snake / viper bites
• What should be done when a poisonous snake bites?

Snake bite symptoms

The clinical manifestations of snake bites, regardless of their type, are characterized by some common features. This is due to the presence of components of snake venom that have a similar effect. The main aggressive media in relation to the victim's tissues are:

1. Neurotoxin - affects the nervous structures;
2. Hemolysin - causes the breakdown of red blood cells and other blood cells;
3. Cardiotoxin - has a toxic effect on the heart and blood vessels;
4. Cholinesterase - an enzyme that disrupts neuromuscular transmission;

In addition to these toxins, snake venom contains many other components that have a damaging effect on tissues.

The common symptoms of a snake bite are:

Local manifestations	The presence of bite marks in the form of two triangular wounds, located at the same level, up to 2-3 mm in size; Severe burning and pain at the site of the bite; Redness and pronounced swelling of the tissues surrounding the wound; Blue or dark spots and blisters on the skin near bite wounds; Bloody discharge from the bite site
Cardiac disorders	Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat - 95-120); Drop in blood pressure, possibly to a critical level; Increased breathing; Chest pain
Neurological disorders	Muscle weakness; Headaches; Clouding of consciousness; Double vision and inability to concentrate gaze; Decreased visual acuity; Swallowing disorder; Drooping of the eyelids and skewed face; Numbness of the body, especially in the area of the bite
General changes	Hemorrhage on the skin; Hyperthermic reaction in the form of an increase in body temperature to high numbers; Bloody vomiting and diarrhea; Muscle pain; Progressive hepatic renal failure;

The severity of symptoms depends on many factors, among which the following are of primary importance:

1. The type of snake, its age and size. In this respect, the most dangerous are cobras, asps, rattlesnakes. Vipers are less poisonous relative to them, although they also cause serious deviations. Young and small snakes are less dangerous. The intensity of the fear of the snake is very important, under the influence of which a greater amount of poison is produced;
2. Localization of the bite. The limbs are most often affected, but other places are sometimes damaged. In the first case, the symptoms develop more slowly than in the case of the localization of the bite on the trunk, neck, face or in the region of the vessels;
3. The victim's age and general condition at the time of the bite. Children and the elderly are most sensitive to snake bites. In them, the bites of even the weakest snakes can lead to lightning death. Concomitant pathology significantly aggravates the toxic effect of the poison;
4. Behavior after a bite. Intense movement and running accelerate blood circulation and promote the rapid spread of the poison throughout the body;
5. Infection of snake teeth with pathogenic microorganisms. It can cause infection of wounds and the development of local purulent-necrotic processes.

These factors determine the rate and degree of development of typical symptoms. They can both gradually build up with a phased layering on each other, and immediately lead to the development of a state of shock and the rapid death of the victim. Most vipers are of the type in which symptoms increase gradually, making their bites less dangerous than other types of snakes. Therefore, it is so important to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect a snakebite.

Why is the bite of specific types of poisonous snakes dangerous?

The bites of most species of snakes that live in our territories rarely lead to the death of the victims. Although general toxic reactions with a threat to health develop quite often. The main danger is the formation of extensive purulent wounds at the site of the snake bite. Toxic reactions stop well against the background of adequately conducted antitoxic therapy.

In contrast to relatively low-venomous snakes, there are those species, the bite of which can cause lightning death of the patient. In this case, there is a progressive destruction of blood cells with the synchronous development of flaccid paralysis of the transverse muscles and respiratory muscles.

The royal snake is especially tough in this regard. Against the background of a slight soreness of the bite itself, after a few minutes, numbness of the limbs and the whole body begins to increase, followed by complete paralysis of all muscles. If during this time you do not have time to deliver the patient to a hospital, death will come very quickly.

Cobra bites

Cobra bites are very painful. In such cases, massive hemolysis of erythrocytes with the development of hemolytic jaundice and liver failure comes to the fore. Neurotoxic reactions are of a secondary nature, making the process and the general condition of the victim heavier. There is also not much time to save lives, which requires urgent hospitalization.

Pit and rattlesnake bites

They are characterized by severe pain and burning at the site of the bite. The edema of the affected segment grows and progresses very quickly, capturing areas remote from the primary focus. Over time, multiple bruises and blisters appear at sites of edema, which tend to coalesce into extensive necrotic wounds. There is a strong general hyperthermic reaction with a hectic rise in body temperature, intoxication, chills, nausea and vomiting. There is a risk of internal bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.

First aid for snake / viper bites

Much depends on the timeliness of rendering and the completeness of its volume. Therefore, you need to follow a clear algorithm, thanks to which you can not only save the life of the victim, but also minimize the risk to health. In no case should you panic. Only calmly and purposefully can really effective help be provided.

First aid is as follows:

1. Calm the victim and lay in a horizontal position. This will slow down the blood flow and the spread of the poison. If the snake is fixed to the skin after being bitten, it is immediately removed. The shorter the duration of contact, the less the amount of venom released.
2. Remove all jewelry from the limb to prevent tissue compression during swelling;
3. It is highly advisable to kill or accurately identify the snake if possible. If it is not possible to do this, the patient is monitored. The absence of pain, swelling and any local or general manifestations is evidence of a non-venomous snake bite;
4. If it is clearly known that the snake is poisonous, the measures begin immediately;
5. Immobilization (immobility) of the bitten area with a splint or an improvised splint;
6. Suction of poison from wounded surfaces. Ideally, it should be done with a suction or a rubber bulb. But in their absence, they resort to suction by mouth, if there is no obvious damage to the mucous membrane;
7. If you need better suction, you can make small linear incisions of the bite wounds;
8. Applying a compression bandage above the bitten area. In this case, only the lymphatic outflow and partially venous outflow are blocked. Arteries must function, which will prevent severe microcirculation disorders and necrotic changes;
9. Drink plenty of fluids. This will reduce the concentration of toxins that have entered the bloodstream;
10. With the development of lightning-fast toxic and shock reactions, resuscitation measures are shown to restore airway patency and indirect heart massage.

What not to do:

1. Drink alcoholic beverages;
2. Fuss, be physically stressed;
3. Apply a tourniquet to the limb. This will disrupt the blood supply to the affected tissues, exacerbating the necrotic changes in the skin;
4. Make incisions in the skin in the area of edema, excluding bite sites;
5. Cauterize the bite site. This does not give results, it only increases the area of the wound surface;
6. Apply warm compresses;
7. Massively ice the limb, as this leads to an additional violation of the blood supply in the affected segment. If local hypothermia is shown, then only in the area of the bite itself.

What should be done when a poisonous snake bites?

The whole range of activities is divided into two stages: prehospital and specialized medical care. The sequence and scope of actions that must be performed in a medical institution, depending on the situation and symptoms of snake bites, are clearly displayed in the table.

Purpose of activities	How is it achieved
Emergency measures	They are aimed at removing snake venom from tissues and wounds, as well as slowing down its absorption. Their entire complex is listed in the previous section.
Destruction of the poison circulating in the systemic circulation	Administration of antitoxic serum. It is a polyvalent (multicomponent) antibodies against the action of various components of the venom of most snake species. They neutralize toxins. The dose is selected individually depending on the severity of the condition and is introduced in stages according to the method Frequently to avoid anaphylactic reactions
Infusion therapy (intravenous fluids)	Solutions of glucose, sodium chloride, Ringer-Locke, rheosorbilact, refortan, fresh frozen plasma are administered to replenish the fluid deficit in the body and reduce the concentration of toxins, stabilize blood pressure and multiple organ failure
Reduction of allergic manifestations and vascular reactions	Achieved by the administration of glucocorticoid hormones (methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone)
Correction of vital parameters	Resuscitation measures in the form of artificial ventilation of the lungs and the introduction of adrenergic drugs that support cardiac activity (adrenaline, norepinephrine, mezaton, dopamine)
Elimination of the neurotoxic effect of the poison	The use of anticholinesterase drugs (proserin, galantamine). They restore neuromuscular transmission of impulses
Elimination of toxic products	Diuretics (furosemide, trifas)
Prevention of hepatic renal failure	Administration of aminophylline, hepatoprotectors (berlition, hepadif)
Prevention and treatment of purulent local complications	Administration of broad spectrum antibiotics (cefotaxime, levofloxacin, cefepime)

Against the background of treatment, a comprehensive examination of the patient should be carried out with the study of a general blood test and hemolysis, biochemical parameters, bilirubin, liver enzymes, a general urinalysis, and monitoring of basic vital parameters.

There is no specific prophylaxis against poisonous snake bites. The nonspecific ones boil down to wearing long trousers and high boots or boots when in areas where snakes have been spread. Caution and attentiveness when walking. In places remote from urban conditions, it is better to have an immune polyvalent serum for snakebite with you.

Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist

Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist