Snake Bite: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Snake bite is a physical puncturing wound caused by the fangs of either a venomous or non-venomous snake. It leads to symptoms like pain and vomiting, paralysis and sometimes death. In case of a venomous (poisonous) snake bite, the snake injects a toxin into the penetrated skin wound or, mucus membranes or the eyes where the toxin can be absorbed. In case of a nonvenomous (non-poisonous) snake bite, the toxin is not secreted or injected. In either cases, the patient should be provided with immediate treatment.

The types of symptoms produced by a snake bite can be grouped under four categories. They are Cardiotoxins which act on the heart tissue, Neurotoxins which act on the nervous system tissue, Cytotoxins acting at the site of the bite or on tissue that directly absorbs the toxin and Hemotoxins which act on the blood coagulation system and may even cause internal bleeding in the person. Common symptoms of a snake bite are redness and swelling around the bite, severe pain, nausea,vomiting, labored breathing etc.

Treatment of snake bite depends on the type of snakes and the severity of envenomation. It is divided into field care and hospital management. There are some dos and don’ts that people need to follow to assist the injured. The emergency medical help must be contacted immediately. By the time they come to help, the person should be lied down with wound below the heart and kept at rest and very still to keep venom from spreading. The wound should be covered with loose, sterile bandage and no other experiment is to be done until the doctor or experts arrive. If the venom is life threatening, the doctor administers anti-venom to keep the venom from spreading into other parts of the body. If it is not that serious, the wound is cleaned and tetanus vaccine is applied.

The treatment of snake bite depends on the snake itself and the quantity of venom injected in the body. The color and type of snake must be noted. It is essential that the emergency staff know it so that they can apply the particular anti venom to the patient. The venom should not be sucked out and tourniquet, ice, or water must not be applied. The wound can simply be cleaned and bandaged lightly. On medical supervision, administration of antitoxin (antivenin) specific for the snake species and a tetanus booster vaccine is done. In case of tetanus injection, it should be applied to the patient every ten years.A rattlesnake bite is extremely venomous and doctors advise an ECG, as well as a head computerized tomography scan (CT scan) if the patient has a headache or shows signs of altered consciousness. The patient may need intravenous (IV) fluids and also antibiotics, breathing support, and treatment of low blood pressure and shock. In severe cases of snake bite,a surgical procedure where the fascia is cut may be necessary if circulation is compromised.

Any person who is bitten by a snake must consult a doctor. Be it poisonous or non-poisonous, the person will be given a treatment and medication to be on the safe side. If left untreated, it may lead to severe symptoms and permanent disabilities. Thus, snake bite is always an emergency condition requiring immediate assistance.

Every person bitten by snake is eligible for treatment.

There is no side effect to the treatment of a snake bite. In fact, without treatment the condition of the patient is sure to go worse with severe complications, paralysis and death. Use of anti-venom helps to prevent the venom from spreading and affecting the person. Tetanus injection also does not have any major side effect.

After medical treatment, the person will start to feel better. Within a few days, one will be back to absolute normal state. But sometimes, it takes months for people to recover completely. In that time span, one should rest completely and be on a healthy diet to boost the immune system. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that it is better to avoid places where snakes are likely to be found. Every person should try to stay calm and let the snake retreat upon an encounter. Wearing long boots, gloves and being protected is essential to avoid being bitten by a snake.

Time for recovery depends on the subject, the venom injected and the seriousness of the injury. Healthy adults recover faster than children or people with weak immune system. In most cases, people recover very soon with the action of the anti-venoms. Within a few days the person comes back to normalcy. But in certain cases, people have shown greater time to recover from a rattlesnake bite. There even exists situations where people fall sick, have strokes due to shock and trauma,etc.

Approximate cost for snake bite treatment is not huge. If the bite is from a non-venomous snake, the treatment will comprise of repeated tetanus injections. In that case, the cost will not be any more than Rs 100 overall. And for the treatment of a poisonous snake bite, the cost may go up to Rs 500 or Rs 600. Overall, it does not require a huge sum that becomes unaffordable for people.

The resuls of the treatment are permanent in most cases and people recover with no further problems. In rare cases, people fall sick and develop kidney failures, strokes etc. with increasing age and diminishing immunity.

Snake bite is a serious issue that calls for medical attention. After the medical treatment, there are some alternatives to ease and help the person feel better. Use of lavender oil and tea tree oil help to boost relief and clean wounds respectively. Coconut oil, turmeric may also be used to fight bacteria and reduce pain and inflammation. Echinacea is a powerful immune system booster, pain reliever and anti-inflammatory that fights infections and is useful in wound healing.