What is the protocol for a snake bite?
Treatment for snakebites
- Wash the bite with soap and water.
- Keep the bitten area still and lower than the heart.
- Cover the area with a clean, cool compress or a moist dressing to ease swelling and discomfort.
- Monitor breathing and heart rate.
- Remove all rings, watches, and constrictive clothing, in case of swelling.
Which injection is given to treat snake bite?
In Snake Bite Snake Venom Antiserum Injection helps prevent any toxic effects caused by the snake venom in a person after a snake bite. It is given as an injection by a doctor or nurse and should not be self-administered.
When do you give ASV?
ASV is a scarce, costly commodity and should only be administered when there are definite signs of envenomation. Unbound, free flowing venom, can only be neutralised when it is in the bloodstream or tissue fluid.
How do hospitals treat snake bites?
Antivenom is the treatment for serious snake envenomation. The sooner antivenom can be started, the sooner irreversible damage from venom can be stopped. Driving oneself to the hospital is not advised because people with snakebites can become dizzy or pass out.
What antibiotics are used to treat snake bites?
The main pattern of use of antibiotics following snakebite envenomation is Ampicillin alone or in combination empirically, Cloxacillin prophylatically and Piperacillin with Tazobactam for severe established infections. The choice of antibiotics is based on the clinician’s discretion.
How is ASV given?
ASV can be administered either by slow intravenous injection at a rate of 2 ml/min or by intravenous infusion (antivenom diluted in 5–10 ml per kilogram body weight of normal saline or D5 W and infused over 1 h).
How many vials can ASV be given?
However, owing to fear of death, the treating physicians land up using the maximum mentioned dose of 10 vials ASV initially followed by 5-10 vials 6 hourly for every poisonous snake-bite case.
Which animal is immune to snake venom?
The hedgehog (Erinaceidae), the mongoose (Herpestidae), the honey badger (Mellivora capensis) and the opossum are known to be immune to a dose of snake venom.