How do I Treat a Snake Bite?

Snake bite

Snakebite Snakebite refers to a snakebite that has bitten into the meat, especially a wound caused by a snake biting through or through a snake that secretes venom. After being bitten by a non-toxic snake, it's like treating a needle-eye-sized wound. Biting by a snake can be very serious, depending on the size of the injured person's body, the location of the bite, the amount of snake venom injected, the speed at which the snake venom is absorbed into the patient's blood circulation, and the length of time between the bite and the application of specific anti-venom serum It depends.

Snake bite disease name

Snake bite

Snake Bite Disease Overview

Snakebite refers to a snakebite that has been bitten into the meat by the snake's teeth, especially a wound caused by a snake biting through the snake's teeth or secreting venom near the snake's teeth. After being bitten by a non-toxic snake, it's like treating a needle-eye-sized wound. Bitten by a poisonous snake can be serious,

Snake bite This depends on the size of the injured body, the location of the bite, the amount of snake venom injected, the rate at which the snake venom is absorbed into the patient's blood circulation, and the length of time between being bitten and applying specific anti-venom serum.

There are a total of 2,500 species of snakes in the world, of which about 650 are poisonous snakes, threatening a vast area of a billion people. It is estimated that more than 300,000 people are bitten by poisonous snakes each year, and the mortality rate is about 10%. Snake damage is severe in the two regions of China and Guangdong, and the incidence of snake bites is about 25 per 10,000 per year. There are more than 160 species of snakes in China, of which about 50 are poisonous snakes, and 10 are highly toxic and harmful, such as the big cobra, golden ring snake, cobra, five-step snake, silver ring snake, viper, belly Snakes, bamboo leaves, iron tips, sea snakes, etc. can cause death after being bitten. These poisonous snakes Xia Qiutun appear in the forests, mountains and grasslands of the south. When people are cutting grass, cutting wood, picking wild fruits, picking vegetables,

Snake bite Steps and military training are easily bitten by poisonous snakes. The head of a poisonous snake is mostly triangular, the neck is thin, the tail is short and thick, and the pigmentation is brighter. When biting, the mouth is wide and the teeth are long. Serpent bites often leave two rows of deep and thick tooth marks. When it is not possible to determine whether a snake is stinging, press the snake bite to give first aid.

Classification of snake bite diseases

General Surgery

Snake bite disease description

Snakes are classified into non-venomous (common) snakes and venomous snakes. Ordinary snake bites leave only small tooth marks on the skin of human wounds, mild tingling, and some can cause small water scars without systemic reactions. Can be sterilized with 70% alcohol, plus gauze bandaging, generally no adverse consequences. Snake bites can leave a pair of deeper tooth marks on the wound. The inherent snake venom enters the tissue, and enters the lymph and bloodstream, which can cause severe poisoning. Must be treated first aid.

Snake bite snake bite symptoms and signs

Ordinary snake bites leave only small tooth marks on the skin of human wounds, mild tingling, and some can cause small water scars without systemic reactions. A snake bite can leave a pair of deeper tooth marks on the wound.

There are two rows of deep coarse tooth marks on the part, which have bleeding, pain, redness and swelling, and spread to the proximal end of the body. Nearby lymph nodes are swollen, tender, and blistered. Systemic symptoms include fever, chills, dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, unclear vision, epistaxis, severe convulsions, coma, arrhythmia, dyspnea, paralysis, and heart and kidney failure. ^[1]

Causes of Snake Bites

Snake bite

Pathophysiology of snake bite

There are about 50 poisonous snakes in China, which are distributed in different regions. For example: frog snakes are mostly in Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan provinces; cobras are also mostly in the south; five steps

Snake bite Snakes, bamboo leaf pastes, etc. are mostly found in the Yangtze River basin and gradually and Fujian; locusts are widely distributed. Snake venom contains toxic proteins, peptides and enzymes, which can be classified into three types according to their effects on the human body:

Neurotoxicity, numb the wound first, and spread to the proximal side causing dizziness, blurred vision, drooping eyesight, unclear speech, limb paralysis, dysphagia, and dyspnea; finally, it can lead to respiratory failure.

Blood circulation poisoning can make the wound swollen and painful, and spread to the near heart side, and nearby lymph nodes also have swelling and pain; and cause chills and fever, heart rate and arrhythmia, restlessness or delirium, as well as skin purple spots, hematuria and oliguria , Yellow dye, etc .: in the end can lead to heart, kidney, brain failure.

Mixed poisons have the effects of both neurotoxicity and blood circulation poisoning, but mixed poisons such as cobra and viper have different effects on nerves and blood circulation.

First aid measures for snake bite

1.Prevent the spread and absorption of venom

After being bitten by a poisonous snake, don't panic and run around. This will cause the venom to spread quickly throughout the body. The injured person should immediately sit or lie down, or call for help by himself or herself, and fastly bind the proximal end of the wound with a rope such as laces or trousers that can be found. If the finger is bitten, the root of the finger can be tied; palm or A bite on the forearm can be banded on the elbow joint; a bite on the toe can be banded on the root of the toe; a bite on the foot or calf can be banded on the knee joint; a bite on the thigh can be banded on the root of the thigh. The purpose of bandaging is to block the return of venom into the heart through veins and lymph, without impeding the supply of arterial blood, which is different from the purpose of hemostasis. Therefore, the banding does not need to be too tight, and its tightness is controlled by being able to slightly weaken the arterial pulsation of the banded lower limb. After bandaging, loosen it every 30 minutes or so, 1-2 minutes each time, so as not to affect the blood circulation and cause tissue necrosis.

Quickly eliminate venom

Immediately wash the wound and surrounding skin with cold water, spring water, soapy water or 1: 5000 potassium phosphate solution to wash away the venom on the surface of the wound. If toxic teeth remain in the wound, it should be quickly picked out with a sharp knife or other sharp objects such as broken glass. It is best to use fire to disinfect it before use. Make a cross incision with the tooth mark as the center, deep down to the skin, and then repeatedly squeeze from the proximal end of the limb to the direction of the wound and around the wound with your hand to promote the venom to escape from the cut wound and rinse with water while squeezing Wounds, irrigation and detoxification should last for 20-30 minutes. After that, if you carry a tea cup with you, you can cup the wound. First, light a small piece of paper in the tea cup, and then fasten the mouth of the cup to the wound, so that the mouth of the cup is close to the skin around the wound. venom. If there is no tea cup, you can also use the mouth to suck wounds to detoxify, but the mouth and lips of the sucker must be free of damage and caries, otherwise there is a danger of poisoning. Suck out the venom immediately, and rinse with water after inhalation.

After detoxification is complete, the wound should be wet-dried with venom to flow out. It must be noted that snake venom is highly toxic and can be fatal with only a small amount, so you must not refuse to open the wound for detoxification because of fear of pain. If you have snake medicine with you, you can take it orally to detoxify. Patients with thirst may drink plenty of water. Never give alcoholic beverages to accelerate the spread of toxins. The wounded after incision and detoxification should be taken to a hospital with a stretcher or a vehicle as soon as possible. After arriving at the medical unit, first wash the wound with 0.05% potassium permanganate solution or 3% hydrogen peroxide; The deeper person cuts the dermis layer slightly, or punctures the skin layer with a triangular needle in the swelling area, and then sucks it with a cupping method or a breast pump to promote the discharge of part of the venom. Add 6000U to 10-20ml of 0.05% procaine or water for injection to seal the periphery or proximal side of the wound, and it can be repeated at intervals of 12-24 hours. In order to avoid serious situations that cannot be handled in the wild. During the transfer, the patient's nervousness should be eliminated and keep quiet.

First aid method for snake bite

1. During self-rescue, use a rope, handkerchief, plant rattan, and cloth tape to bind the 5 cm of the proximal end of the wound, and the antitoxin continues to spread in the body. Every 15 to 20 minutes, loosen the string for 1 to 2 minutes to prevent limb ischemia and necrosis. ^[1]

2. Rinse the wound repeatedly with well water, spring water, tea water, tap water, or 1: 5000 potassium permanganate solution, while making multiple "ten" incisions on the wound to detoxify. Then use a hot pot, breast pump, suction device to suck out the poisonous juice. In an emergency, suck the poisonous juice out of the wound with your mouth, and the rescuer will spit out immediately after sucking, and clean the mouth. This method is forbidden when first responders have oral ulcers. ^[1]

3. Acupuncture detoxification. If the swelling is severe for more than 24 hours, you can use a blunt needle to puncture a pinhole at the lower end of the swelling every 2 to 3 cm to sag the affected limb. 2 to 3 consecutive days. ^[1]

4. When the hands and feet are swollen, you can acupuncture the eight evil points between the fingers and the eight wind points between the toes to accelerate detoxification and swelling. ^[1]

5. Application of antidote: Nantong snake medicine (Jide snake medicine), the light person takes 5 tablets each time, 3 times / day. Take 10 tablets / times for heavy cases, 4-6 hours / times. Dissolve the above tablets with warm water and apply it to half an inch around the wound. Shanghai snake medicine, take 10 tablets each time, and then take 5 tablets per hour. 30 to 60 grams of fresh Lobelia (Lycopersicon), decoction or smash around the wound. ^[1]

6. Do not use drugs in first aid, such as morphine, chlorpromazine, barbiturates and other central inhibitors and striated muscle inhibitors, arrow poison. And rushed to the hospital for treatment. ^[1]

Snake bite treatment plan

First aid for a snake bite

Immediately tighten the near limb of the bite with a band at the scene. For example, a person with a foot bite lashes the ankle and the lower leg and tightens it to prevent venous blood and lymphatic reflux. Soak the wound in cold water. Retrograde vertebra squeezes out part of the venom. You can also suck the wound (no oral lesions in the sucker), and gargle as you suck. During transportation, the wound was still wet with cold water, and the bandage should be loosened every 2-3 minutes (to avoid prolonged bleeding at the extremities).

Snake bite-diagnosis and treatment After arriving at the medical unit, first wash the wound with 0.05% potassium permanganate solution or 3% hydrogen peroxide; pull out the remaining venomous snake teeth; if the wound is deeper, cut the dermis a little, or use a triangular needle to puncture the swelling The skin layer is then sucked by potting method or breast pump to promote the excretion of some venom; pancreatic egg enzymes have a direct detoxifying effect. It can be taken at 2000-6000U in 0.05% procaine or 10-20ml of water for injection. The wound is peripheral or proximal and can be repeated at intervals of 12-24 hours.

treatment

Snake medicine is an effective Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of poisonous snake bites, including Nantong (Ji Desheng) snake medicine, Shanghai snake medicine, Guangzhou (serving Xiaosheng) snake medicine, etc .; it can be taken orally or topically, and some are injectable. For usage, see Manual. In addition, there are some fresh herbs that are also effective in biting poisonous snakes, such as horse chestnut flowers, anise flowers, lobelia, field scallion yellow, white flowering hydrangea, etc.

There are two kinds of anti-venom serum: monovalent and multivalent. Monovalent anti-venous serum has better effect on known snake bites. Allergy tests must be performed before use, and desensitization injections should be used for positive results.

Antibacterials are available for prevention and treatment of co-infection.

For various organ dysfunction or shock, corresponding treatment measures must be taken. In addition, CNS inhibitors, muscle relaxants: epinephrine and anticoagulants are prohibited during treatment.

Snake bite health tips

Prevention is key:

Preventing snake bites

1. Popularize first aid self-rescue knowledge after identifying snakes and poison bites.

2. Kill rats and locusts by cutting off snake food and using drugs to catch and kill venomous snakes.

3. Don't go where there may be poisonous snakes. When you go, you must wear long boots, stockings, hats, and beat the grass with a stick to scare the snake, just in case. When I saw a poisonous snake, I went away.

note:

1. Once bitten by a snake, first sit down and try to minimize exercise to avoid accelerated blood circulation.

Snake bite 2. Try to identify the type of snake. If it is believed that the snake bite is within 5 minutes and the medical staff takes more than 30 minutes to arrive, the wound should be cut open and the venom should be aspirated.

3. Gently wash the wound with soap and water. Do not wipe the wound, and pat it with a cloth to dry it. If you need to move the patient, lift him instead of letting him move.

Snake bite prevention

1. Popularize first aid self-rescue knowledge after identifying poisonous snakes and poison bites 2. Kill rodents and locusts to break snake food and use drugs to catch and kill poisonous snakes. 3. Don't try to catch snakes or amuse them easily, because being irritated may cause injury. 4. Wear thick trousers, leather boots, and stockings when you are in the place where poisonous snakes infest. It is best to connect the trousers to the boots, wear a hat, and hold lighting equipment in hand. When I saw a poisonous snake, I went away. 5. Don't reach into the hollow logs or dense weed piles or flip the stones with your bare hands without detailed inspection; when crossing stones or wood, you should pay attention to the possibility of poisonous snakes on the other side. 6. Staff who often come into contact with venomous snakes must pay attention to safe operation and carry anti-venom serum with them. 7. When camping, choose an open and dry place for camping, avoid camping near the debris pile, and raise a campfire or torch outside the camp at night, especially on summer nights. 8. Try not to wading or swimming in areas where poisonous snakes often appear, because most of them are master swimmers, there may be poisonous snakes in the water. 9. Once bitten by a snake, first sit down and try to reduce exercise to avoid blood circulation speeding up. 10. Try to identify the type of snake. If it is believed that the snake bite is within 5 minutes and the medical staff takes more than 30 minutes to arrive, the wound should be cut open and the venom should be aspirated. 11. Gently wash the wound with soap and water. Do not wipe the wound, and pat it with a cloth to dry it. If you need to move the patient, lift him instead of letting him move.

Snake bite related information

Snake venom contains many substances such as enzymes or proteins, the content of which varies depending on the type of snake. These substances can invade the blood, nervous system, or other tissues. Some snake venoms have a direct toxic effect, but they are not all fatal to humans. Some have systemic lethal toxicity (such as rattlesnake's venom), while others initially only damage tissues near the wound, but can cause gangrene.

If the bite is in the extremities, immediately fix the injured limb in a horizontal position, and then wrap the wound with a wide, solid bandage or wrap the entire limb; splints can be used as an aid. Amputations, sucking wounds, or using arterial tourniquets are unwise. Force and excitement should be avoided to prevent an increase in the pulse rate that leads to faster circulation. Similarly, stimulants should be avoided. Drugs such as potassium permanganate are also harmful to the wound.

Most types of snake venom poisoning can be cured with anti-venom serum. The effectiveness of anti-venom serum prepared from immunized animals (especially horses) depends on the specificity of the anti-venom serum, the content of antibodies, and the concentration and purity of the preparation. Although certain snake snake bites are better treated with specific anti-venom sera, some anti-venom sera can treat a variety of related snake venoms. For example, the snake venom of Notechis scutatus is the same for several other snake venoms. Also effective.