Table of contents:
- What is the difference between poisonous and non-venomous snakes?
- What are the symptoms and signs of a rattlesnake bite?
- How do you deal with rattlesnake bites?
- What should you not do when you are bitten by a rattlesnake?
Snakes are one of the animals that are found in many tropical countries such as Indonesia. One of the snake defense mechanisms when disturbed or threatened is by biting. Wounds caused by snake bites can come from venomous or non-venomous snakes, generally snakes bite when they are active, namely in the morning and evening.
Every year, there are thousands of people who die in the world from poisonous snake bites. A rattlesnake bite is a medical emergency because it can cause shock and death. Quick and precise handling of snake bites can reduce mortality by more than 90%.
What is the difference between poisonous and non-venomous snakes?
There are more than 2000 species of snakes in the world, but only about 200 species of snakes are venomous. To estimate whether a snake is venomous or not, it can be seen from the following signs.
Snakes are not venomous:
- Rectangular head shape
- Small canines
- Round pupils
- The bite mark is in the form of a soft, curved wound
Rattlesnake:
- Triangular head shape
- Two large canines on the upper jaw
- Thin vertical black pupils, surrounded by yellow-green eyeballs
- The bite marks are in the form of two fang bite holes, similar to a stab / puncture of a sharp object
Some types of poisonous snakes that we can find around us are spoon snakes, welang snakes, cobras, ground snakes, green snakes, sea snakes, tree snakes, and others.
What are the symptoms and signs of a rattlesnake bite?
Rattlesnake bites can cause damage at the bite site and other systemic disorders. Symptoms at the bite site generally occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours and are swollen and painful, and bluish patches develop.
Tissue death can occur in bite marks, which can complicate treatment. Other symptoms that appear include muscle weakness, chills, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, and blurred vision. Snake venom can also cause specific symptoms in several organs:
- Hematotoxic, is toxic to the blood, causes bleeding at the site of the bite, bleeding in other places such as the lungs, heart, brain, gums, gastrointestinal tract, urinary blood, as well as blood clotting disorders.
- Neurotoxic, is toxic to nerves, causing sufferers to feel muscle weakness, stiffness, to spasms. If it attacks the respiratory nerves, this can make it difficult for the sufferer to breathe and can lead to death.
- Cardiotoxic, symptoms that arise in the form of a decrease in blood pressure, shock, and cardiac arrest.
- Compartment syndrome, is a syndrome that results in increased pressure in a group of muscles, one of which is due to swelling. As a result, blood vessels and nerves can be pinched, and over time the muscles can become deprived of oxygen and may require doctors to perform surgery.
How do you deal with rattlesnake bites?
What to do if you or your friend are bitten by a rattlesnake?
- Stay calm, and try to remember the scene, type, color, and size of the snake.
- Patients are expected to rest and minimize movement.
- Place the bite area lower than the rest of the body.
- Clean the bite area, avoid rinsing with water, then cover with a clean dry cloth.
- Remove the ring or watch from the bitten limb, so as not to aggravate the swollen limb.
- Loosen the clothes you are wearing, but don't have to take them off.
- Get immediate medical attention.
What should you not do when you are bitten by a rattlesnake?
- Manipulating the wound, either by suctioning snake venom from the bite site, or by cutting the skin so that it can come out with the blood.
- Rubbing with chemicals, or applying hot water or ice to the bite wound.
- Tying or applying a tourniquet too hard to the bite wound. Some sources say the installation of a tourniquet can be given under the first 30 minutes if symptoms develop quickly and there is no anti-cure.
- Drink alcohol or coffee.
- Trying to chase and catch the snake.
If the snake that bit you is not venomous, the doctor will give antibiotic therapy and anti-tetanus serum as indicated, while in more severe cases antivenom can be given. To reduce existing pain symptoms, sufferers can take painkillers such as paracetamol.
