Snake bites
Snake bites occur when a snake bites the
skin. They are medical emergencies if the snake is venomous.
Causes
Venomous snake bites include bites by any of the following:
• Cobra
• Copperhead
• Coral
snake
• Cottonmouth
(water moccasin)
• RattlesnakeSymptoms
Common symptoms includes,
• Bleeding
from wound
• Blurred
vision
• Burning
of the skin
• Convulsions
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Excessive
sweating
• Fainting
• Fang
marks in the skin
• Fever
• Increased
thirst
• Loss of
muscle coordination
• Nausea
and vomiting
• Numbness
and tingling
• Rapid
pulse
• Tissue
death
• Severe
pain
• Skin
discoloration
• Swelling
at the site of the bite
• Weakness
Investigations
1. Blood tests
2. Urine test
Treatments.
1. Keep the person calm. Keep the affected area below heart
level to reduce the flow of venom.
2. Use a pump suction device.
3. Remove any rings or constricting items, because the
affected area may swell. Create a loose splint to help restrict movement of the
area.
4. Give particular anti venomous.
REFERENCES
- What to do in a medical emergency: Bites and stings. American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/EmergencyManual/WhatToDoInMedicalEmergency/Default.aspx?id=210&terms=snake+bites. Accessed May 09, 2015.
- Tintinalli JE, et al. Reptile bites. In: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed May 09, 2015.
- Venomous snakes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/. Accessed May 09, 2015.