Venomous Snake Bites
The few venomous snakes native to the United States include three from the asp/viper family: the copperhead, the cottonmouth or water moccasin, and the Western diamondback rattler. Also included are three from the coral family: the Eastern (common coral snake), the Texas coral snake and the Arizona coral snake. The bites from these snakes can cause damage to the skin, tissue, and muscle surrounding the bite, producing effects within just a few hours. The most common symptoms at the bite site are pain, swelling, tenderness, tenseness, and loss of feeling. Several factors can affect the extent of damage caused by the snakebite such as the person’s age, size, height, and weight, sensitivity to venom, the species and size of snake, and the location, depth, and number of bites. Secondary issues are infection, tissue loss, and muscle damage. Similar to a severe burn, sometimes the amount of tissue damage and loss due to results of the bite is greater than the damage from the venom itself.
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Research
Case report: Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of puff adder (Bitis arietans) bite.
Abstract: The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a venomous viper mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to its common occurrence and potent venom, it is considered to be the most dangerous snake in Africa, responsible for most snakebite fatalities there. Puff adder...
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy after Bothrops lanceolatus snake bites in Martinique: a brief report.
Abstract: Every year 10 to 20 cases of snake bites are reported on the Caribbean island of Martinique. The only snake involved, Bothrops lanceolatus, is endemic on the island, and its bite may lead to systemic multifocal thrombotic complications in the'absence of the...
Resolution of compartment syndrome after rattlesnake envenomation utilizing non-invasive measures.
Abstract: Western diamondback rattlesnake envenomation is usually managed by administration of neutralizing antivenom. The development of compartment syndrome is a rare complication that has sparked considerable debate regarding medical vs. surgical management. We...