SNAKE BITE
Every snakebite should be treated as potentially venomous
Snakebite patients must be managed in a hospital with a
monitored resuscitation area, access to 24 hour formal
pathology laboratory and available antivenom, by staff able to
manage the complications of anaphylaxis and envenomation
Current 'Point of Care' testing has been proven unreliable for
use in case of snake bite as false negatives have been reported
in envenomed patients - Do not use point of care testing e.g.
bedside INR tests.
Signs and symptoms of envenomation
- sudden collapse
- non-specific systemic effects e.g. nausea, voriting,
abdominal pain, headache
- coagulopathy: bleeding of gums, coughing, spitting or
vomiting blood, prolonged bleeding from
the bite or IV puncture site, blood in urine
- neurotoxicity: progressive paralysis - drooping of eyelids,
uncoordinated eye movements, double vision, difficulty in
swallowing, breathing or speaking,fatigue and irregular
shallow breathing, gait disturbances, including weakness
or poor coordination
- myotoxicity. muscle and back pain, tenderness, wearness.
Every snakebite should be treated as potentially venomous
Snakebite patients must be managed in a hospital with a
monitored resuscitation area, access to 24 hour formal
pathology laboratory and available antivenom, by staff able to
manage the complications of anaphylaxis and envenomation
Current 'Point of Care' testing has been proven unreliable for
use in case of snake bite as false negatives have been reported
in envenomed patients - Do not use point of care testing e.g.
bedside INR tests.
Signs and symptoms of envenomation
- sudden collapse
- non-specific systemic effects e.g. nausea, voriting,
abdominal pain, headache
- coagulopathy: bleeding of gums, coughing, spitting or
vomiting blood, prolonged bleeding from
the bite or IV puncture site, blood in urine
- neurotoxicity: progressive paralysis - drooping of eyelids,
uncoordinated eye movements, double vision, difficulty in
swallowing, breathing or speaking,fatigue and irregular
shallow breathing, gait disturbances, including weakness
or poor coordination
- myotoxicity. muscle and back pain, tenderness, wearness.
