Snake Bite

hey guys..this is what i have researched for tmrw...feel free to add on any information kay...hope you guys had a good weekend..XD

1. First Aid For Snake Bites.
Safety first! Get away from the snake. That's probably why it bit in the first place. Follow universal precautions and wear personal protective equipment if you have it.
Call 911 immediately! Waiting until the pain may lead to permanent tissue damage. Remember that calling 911 on a cell phone is different than a regular phone.
Do not elevate. Keep the bite below the level of the heart.
Wash the area with warm water and soap.
Remove constricting clothing and jewelry from the extremity. The area may swell and constricting items will cause tissue death.
If the snake is an elapid species (coral snakes and cobras), wrap the extremity with an elastic pressure bandage. Start from the point closest to the heart and wrap towards the fingers or toes. Continue to keep the bite lower than the heart.
Follow the basics of first aid while waiting for responders to arrive. Be especially concerned about the potential for shock.

2. Why snake bites potentially harmful?
Destructive to tissue:
a. Proteases, collagenases and hyaluronidases facilitate tissue destruction and spread of venom.
b. Local tissue necrosis can be dramatic and require skin grafting.
c. Haemolysis and muscle necrosis may follow snakebite.
Neurotoxic:
d. Neuromuscular blockade may cause cardiac failure and respiratory failure.
e. The local wound from snakes such as the coral snake may be small but the consequences of the venom considerable (respiratory failure).
f. Cranial nerve dysfunction
Thrombogenic:
g. Enzymes may promote clot formation and plasmin activation.
h. Consumptive coagulopathy and haemorrhage may then result.

3. Signs & Symptoms of cobra and viper envenomation.
Immediate, local pain (almost always present) .
Soft tissue swelling (may be progressive)
Neurologic findings, which may begin early and be rapidly progressive (in anecdotal cases, victims have suffered respiratory arrest in a matter of minutes) or may be delayed in onset as long as 24 hours
Alteration of mental status (eg, drowsiness, occasionally with euphoria)
Complaints related to cranial nerve dysfunction, such as ptosis (often one of the earliest neurotoxic findings), ophthalmoplegia, dysphagia, and dysphasia
Profuse salivation, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
Paresis of neck and jaw muscles and generalized muscular weakness followed by flaccid paralysis
Shortness of breath, respiratory failure (muscular paresis and accumulated secretions)
Chest pain or tightness
Eye pain, tearing, blurred vision (with eye exposure to venom from spitting cobras).
Impending respiratory failure
o Respiratory distress or weakness
o Cyanosis
Neurologic dysfunction
o Altered mental status
o Ptosis (may be the earliest sign of systemic toxicity)
o Generalized weakness or paralysis
Cardiovascular collapse
o Hypotension
o Tachycardia or bradycardia
Soft tissue edema .Inflammation of the conjunctiva-whitish discharge.
Signs of necrosis usually appear within 48 hours of the bite.
o The area around the fang punctures darkens.
o Blistering may follow.
o Necrosis is usually confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue but may be quite extensive.






Explanation of above medical terms:

Neuromuscular blockade-the intentional interruption of transmission at neuromuscular junction.
Consumptive coagulopathy-Consumptive coagulopathy, better known as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), is characterized by abnormally increased activation of procoagulant pathways. This results in intravascular fibrin deposition, and decreased levels of hemostatic components, including platelets, fibrinogen, and other clotting factors.
Ptosis-drooping of eyelids caused by weakness of muscles responsible for raising eyelids.
Dysphagia-difficulty in swallowing
Dysphasia-disturbed speech
Paresis-impaired movement
Cyanosis- blue colouration of skin & mucous membrane due to deoxygenated Hb in superficial blood vessels.
Tachycardia-increased heart rate
Bradycardia-decreased heart rate.