Is it fair popular belief, which states that by urinating on the site of a snake bite, you can neutralize the effect of the poison? A BBC Future correspondent found out what is folklore here and what is true.
Fans of the American comedy television series Friends will no doubt remember “The One with the Jellyfish,” in which one of the main characters, Monica, was stung by this sea animal during a trip to the beach.
Another character in the series, the loving unengaged actor Joey, recalls a show he saw on the Discovery Channel. It said that urine helped with poisonous burns and bites, and Joey how true friend offers his services to Monica - he is ready to urinate on the burn.
Unfortunately, Joey has sudden stage fright and is unable to get a word out. The honor of performing this heroic deed will fall to Chandler, Monica's future husband. (According to the film, Monica was relieved after this - translator's note).
The case of Monica and the jellyfish burn is not the only one of its kind. We often hear that urine helps with snake bites. Indeed, BBC World Service listeners in Cameroon, Sri Lanka and Burma (Myanmar) have asked me more than once whether this is true.
Before I analyze this myth further, here are a few quick facts and figures regarding snake bites.
Snakes bite at least five million people every year. Many such cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia.
The good news is that only a small minority of these bites are fatal. The bad news is that every year 125 thousand people die from snake bites, half of them in India.
This path will seem obvious to the point of banality, but the most main advice The advice given by reptile and amphibian specialists (aka herpetologists) is to avoid being bitten in the first place.
Avoid touching snakes if you see them, and wear long trousers and secure boots when going to areas where snakes are common.
Shake out your shoes vigorously before putting them on if a snake could theoretically crawl into them.
But, even despite all these precautions, an accidental encounter with a snake cannot be completely ruled out.
A few years ago in Costa Rica I was shown poisonous eyelash vipers that camouflage themselves perfectly as they wriggle among the yellow and red flowers of the tropical heliconia grass.
These flowers are so beautiful that people who see them for the first time touch them with their hands in admiration and sometimes, to their horror, discover that they are holding a poisonous snake.
If you do get bitten by a snake, should you urinate on the bite site? Simple answer: no!
This would be a waste of precious time, which could be better spent getting to the nearest hospital and getting the antidote.
Urine does not help with snake bites. It contains urea, which softens the skin and is found in many creams, such as those that help heal cracked heels.
Urea is also an antiseptic, which is why some people find it beneficial and use it in baths to treat leg ulcers.
However, these beneficial properties are not enough to neutralize the toxins contained in snake venom.
So urine doesn't help. What about other folk remedies, say, sucking poison out of a wound or tying an arm or leg with a tourniquet made from a strip of fabric torn from one’s own skirt to stop the spread of poison?
Unfortunately, sucking out the poison will also not work, since you are unlikely to be able to suck it out completely before it spreads throughout the body.
Even attempting to cut out the bite with a knife can cause profuse bleeding, since the venom may have already reduced normal blood clotting.
Tourniquets, the use of which was previously recommended, can damage the tissue adjacent to the bite site. However, it is worth delicately immobilizing the injured limb using a splint or splint, in much the same way as is done for fractures, because than smaller hand or the leg moves, the slower the poison spreads.
Don't put yourself at additional risk or waste time trying to kill the snake so you can bring the body to the hospital for identification.
It’s better to try to remember some characteristic external signs that will allow doctors to determine whether the snake that bit you was poisonous.
What marks, such as spots, did you notice? What was the shape of the eyes? Have you seen the fangs? What shape was the head? Were there any indentations between the eyes and nose?
If the snake is dead, you can take it with you, but do not touch its head. Even dead, it can reflexively bite you.
It will be best if you film the snake with your mobile phone camera.
There is one man who is determined to reduce the death toll from... snake bites in India. This is Dr. Ian Simpson, a British herpetologist who worked in World Organization Health Authority (WHO) and helped develop India's first national snakebite management protocol.
The simple idea was to provide antidotes rural areas, since the main cause of death is that people do not have time to get to the hospital in a timely manner.
Simpson is disheartened by the number of people he meets who turn to local traditional healers for help instead of going straight to the hospital.
Many gradually recover from the consequences of bites, having first visited a healer. But according to Dr. Simpson, this is mainly because most bites are not actually venomous.
A biologist in Costa Rica gave me another important piece of advice about what to do if you are bitten by a snake.
The poison spreads throughout the body through the circulatory system. Therefore, the lower your heart rate, the slower the poison will spread throughout your body.
His advice was to remain completely calm on the way to the hospital so that your heart doesn't race, even though you know the bite could be fatal.
As for jellyfish burns, wetting them with salt water or vinegar can help. Fresh water will make them more painful, and urine will have no effect.
So, Monica, as horrible as it is, I have to tell you the hard truth: Joey and Chandler shouldn't have bothered and pissed on you.
Snakes are found everywhere, so it is not surprising that many encounter a snake bite, often in nature, mainly in areas with high vegetation. Therefore, everyone needs knowledge of what a snake bite looks like, the symptoms that appear, and how to provide first aid after a snake bite during an attack.
In more than 65% of all cases, the snake bites in the lower extremities. You are walking in the tall grass and suddenly feel a strong prick in your leg. Did you just get caught on a thorn or is it a snake bite?
So what does a snake bite look like on the human body? Regardless of how the snake bites, in the leg, arm or other part of the body, one or two small triangular punctures from the snake’s teeth are visible on the skin. They are located at a short distance parallel to each other. A snake bite hardly bleeds, or only a small amount of blood appears. Redness is visible around the dots.
Symptoms of a snake bite
- Manifestation of moderate pain at the site of skin lesions;
- burning sensation;
- after a short period of time, a maximum of half an hour, swelling appears on the skin in the place where the snake bit;
- Body temperature drops, dizziness appears, makes you sleepy, nausea and increased heart rate bother you.
Based on the area of localization, symptoms can be divided into several groups.
- The immediate location of the bite: redness, the appearance of wounds, swelling and hematomas.
- Cardiovascular system: increased heart rate, pain in the chest area, breathing problems, decreased blood pressure.
- Nervous system: headache, development of dizziness, numbness of the facial muscles and body area at the site of injury, clouded consciousness, general weakness, blurred vision.
- General condition: vomiting with bloody discharge, upset stomach, fever.
Symptoms of a poisonous snake bite
After poison enters the body, the victim may develop certain symptoms, the type and degree of manifestation of which depends on the type of reptile.
Common viper. In the area of a possible bite, one or two punctures are clearly visible. A strong burning sensation and pain appears on the skin at the site of injury. After a maximum of half an hour, significant swelling and redness appears. The skin at the site where the snake bite occurred becomes bluish-purple. Body temperature decreases. Nausea and dizziness begin to bother you, and the victim becomes drowsy. With severe intoxication, weakness and pallor are added to these symptoms. The limbs are cold. Consciousness is confused, fever and shortness of breath appear. A person may lose consciousness and develop kidney failure.
Central Asian cobra. The bite is accompanied by acute, burning pain. Relief comes only after a few hours. There is slight swelling around the wounds, from which fluid may ooze. The skin is clean, without changing the natural color. Depending on which limb the bite occurred on, its functionality is impaired. It is possible to develop paralysis in an ascending line relative to the site of the bite. The eyelids and lower jaw begin to droop involuntarily. There is a disturbance in the movement of the eyeballs. This is caused by damage to the facial muscles. General intoxication develops almost at lightning speed. The victim is worried about weakness and anxiety. The danger of a snake bite manifests itself in difficulty breathing, and it becomes difficult for a person to swallow. The secretion of saliva increases, nausea bothers you, and vomiting may occur. Speech is unrelated, often a person simply opens his mouth, but the sound of the words is inaudible. A reaction to a snake bite may include involuntary urination and emptying of the stomach.
Depending on the strength of the bite and the amount of poison that has entered the blood, as well as due to untimely first aid, the victim may die in as soon as possible(30 minutes-7 hours). IN in rare cases the period takes more than a day.
First aid for a snake bite
How to provide first aid for a snake bite? What should you do first? The main thing is not to panic and be able to coordinate your actions. If a non-venomous snake bites a person, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the wound to reduce the amount of dirt that gets into the wound with the reptile’s dirty teeth. You must try to prevent water from getting into the wounds.
Provide first aid for a snake bite as soon as possible. No later than 20 minutes from the moment of the bite, treat the wound with an antiseptic solution (potassium permanganate, iodine, etc.), avoiding contact with the affected areas. Cooling the injured area will help relieve swelling. Ice, a dampened napkin, or a bottle filled with liquid are suitable for this. Bandage the bite site to avoid infection.
The thing is that first aid for a snake bite is one of the decisive factors in preserving human life. If severe pain occurs, first aid If you are bitten by a snake, you should take painkillers. People suffering from allergies will need emergency help for a snake bite. They primarily need antihistamines. Even the bite of a non-venomous snake will cause complications in an allergic person.
First aid for poisonous snake bites
In terms of the degree of intoxication, snake venom is superior to insect bites and, accordingly, the first aid provided may vary significantly.
- Place the victim on a horizontal surface lying down. The poison spreads through the blood more slowly if a person is in a horizontal position.
- Contact the medical staff at your nearest facility as soon as possible. Do not leave the victim alone. If there is no pain, burning, or swelling on the skin at the site of the bite, most likely the snake was non-venomous.
- Free the affected part from clothing, jewelry, and any objects that interfere with the outflow of blood when swelling develops.
It is necessary before the arrival of doctors:
- immobilize the affected limb (the ideal option is a loose bandage, splint, etc.);
- suck out the poison from the wound (carry out the procedure no later than 10 minutes after the bite). In 20 minutes, more than half of the poison that gets into it is removed from bite wounds. Don't do this with your mouth. Extra microbes will get into the wound, and through damage to the oral mucosa, the poison penetrates into the blood of the person providing first aid. medical care when bitten poisonous snakes.;
- treat the wounds with a disinfectant solution (hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green). It is strictly forbidden to treat with alcohol. Its use provokes increased blood circulation and, as a result, rapid spread of poison;
- limit the possibility of infection entering the wound by applying a sterile bandage (it should not compress the limb. A finger can pass freely between the material and the skin);
- cool down skin using ice (take breaks as often as possible to avoid tissue frostbite);
- use antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids. Perfect option administer them intramuscularly;
- the victim should drink as much fluid as possible (up to 5 liters per day). Allows you to reduce intoxication of the body.
If breathing is impaired, use a tampon soaked in ammonia to relieve the condition. ; - with the rapid development of problems with breathing and heart function, stimulants are introduced;
- If breathing is completely absent and the activity of the cardiovascular system is not observed, artificial respiration and indirect cardiac massage are performed.
What not to do after a snake bite
- The damaged area cannot be cut crosswise or completely cut out. Additional damage will lead to infections. Possible damage to veins or tendons.
- Do not burn the damaged area with hot objects or chemicals. The thing is that poisonous teeth penetrate deep into the muscle tissue and this effect will not give the desired result. Subsequently, scabs form, under which suppuration develops.
- Under no circumstances should you overstretch an injured limb. Application of a tourniquet will cause gangrenous phenomena, which increases the risk of death.
- Do not give the victim alcohol for internal use or treat the bite site with it. Alcoholic drinks are not an antidote. Its penetration into the blood only enhances the effect of the poison on the body and complicates its elimination.
- It is not recommended to insulate the affected area. This will only contribute to the rapid spread of the poison.
- Do not apply ice to the wound for a long time.
- Do not subject the person to physical stress.
What not to do if bitten by a poisonous snake
- Application of tourniquets is prohibited. This can be explained by the fact that a sudden disruption of blood circulation can provoke tissue damage and increase intoxication of the human body;
- do not cut the wound to remove the poison. There is a possibility of secondary infection, penetration of poison into the vessels circulatory system. Deep cuts can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves responsible for the vital functions of the body;
- do not burn the bites;
- Do not allow the victim to drink drinks containing alcohol.
Treatment
Treatment of snake bites is not easy; timely first aid to the victim and subsequent manipulations in the hospital, after passing all the necessary tests ( general analysis blood, urine, etc.). The necessary effect in the treatment of poisonous snake bites can be achieved by administering antitoxic serums, the main component of which is horse saliva. The initial dose of antivenom for a bite depends on the severity of the injury. However, it is worth considering that this product can cause allergies. The administration of the antidote is carried out under the strict supervision of doctors, observation in the hospital for at least 12 hours.
For example, anti-viper serum effectively neutralizes the venom of vipers and some other types of poisonous snakes.
Preventive measures to prevent snake bites
Prevention that allows you to protect yourself as much as possible from snake bites includes a number of actions:
- do not shout at the snake, do not stomp, do not wave your arms. By doing this you can only provoke her to attack. Let her crawl away;
- When walking through forests and swampy areas, avoid visiting areas with dense vegetation;
- cover your body as much as possible: high boot tops and thick clothing fabric will create maximum protection;
- When moving through the forest, tap a stick in front of you. When picking small berries from bushes, run a stick along it and, if after a few minutes there is no noticeable movement, proceed to picking;
- When staying overnight in nature, before going to bed, carefully check your tents and sleeping bags for the presence of unwanted guests. Carefully close the entrance to the tent.
If the measures did not help and the snake attacked you, provide first aid, taking into account the requirements of what should not be done if a snake bites you.
Consequences for humans
Poisons, based on the type of effect on the human body, can be divided into two main groups: hemotoxic and neurotoxic. Their effect on the endothelial cells of the capillaries provokes sweating of plasma and red blood cells.
The consequences of snake bites will be complicated by the occurrence of secondary infection or compartment syndrome, and preventive medical interventions can cause significant harm due to the possibility of developing allergic reactions to serum components.
Clinical consequences range from a mild local reaction to a threat to human life. The risk of developing complications from a snake bite and the degree of their severity depends on:
- type and size of the individual;
- location of damage;
- the amount of toxin penetrated;
- age, weight and health status of the person.
The most likely death is from a snake bite in children. This occurs due to the high degree of intoxication, since the poison spreads faster in the child’s body.
Systemic reactions of the body manifest themselves as:
- hemostasis disorders;
- acute renal failure;
- neurotoxic damage with local numbness;
- pain, swelling;
- cranial nerve palsy;
- cardiac dysfunction;
- respiratory arrest;
- in a state of shock.
E This summer it happened that for the first time in my life I was bitten by a snake, and not just any copperhead, but a viper. Bitten on thumb right hand.
The bite itself is not very painful; in my opinion, the wasp bites are more painful. Blood flowed from the wound for about 10 minutes. I sucked out the poison as much as I could while the wound was open.
+15 minutes from viper bite
After about 5 minutes, I felt that my forearm began to go numb and hurt a little, then my shoulder, then my other shoulder. All this took about 15 minutes. Then the second shoulder let go.
I felt a little dizzy, but I chalked it up to excitement, and it went away in just a minute.
After half an hour, the hand at the site of the bite began to visibly swell. They took off all the rings and bracelets. Another half hour and I would have had to cut it short.
+45 minutes
An hour later, the hand was completely swollen and the swelling went higher to the forearm.
+1h 20 min
The head is a little misleading, but not critical.
+2 hours
Volokolamsk, Central District Hospital - prednisolone was injected intramuscularly, 2 ampoules (2ml). They have nothing else for such a case. They offered to go to their hospital. Refused. I could only sign the refusal with a cross :) I couldn’t hold the pen - my fingers didn’t bend as needed.
Volokolamsk Central District Hospital
We're going to Moscow. The head is slightly dizzy, if you don’t spin and don’t hit bumps, it steers quite normally.
+4 hours
Emergency room of a clinic in Moscow ≈4 hours after the bite. The hand is slowly turning blue. An ambulance was called from the emergency room, which took Sklifa to the Toxicology Department. Along the way, we put in one IV.
One thing can be said about the “Acute Poisonings for Mental Patients” department itself (that’s where all adults with snake bites in Moscow end up) - it’s the only one in all of Moscow and that’s where everyone ends up with a squirrel and an overdose. So it’s definitely not boring. Upon admission, absolutely everything is taken away. You can't use the phone. If you had any valuable things, they are handed over for collection under inventory. Upon discharge, every penny was returned to me. But those who get here in an unconscious state, as a rule, are very surprised by the lack of money, keys, etc.
Immediately they introduced 3 more IVs, antibiotics, and, apparently, serum. By morning, the swelling began to subside, leaving in its place bruises along the veins and in places where there were more muscles.
+1 day
By the end of the second day, the swelling had completely subsided, leaving a bruise on the entire right arm. Squeeze something right hand almost impossible.
+1 day. A bruise appeared at night.
I was released from the hospital on the third day. A man lay nearby with a bite to his leg. He had been lying here for a week and was left for further treatment. The viper's venom had such a powerful effect on his body that the skin on his leg burst from swelling.
Discharged with adventures. They didn’t bring my things, but since I was bitten and not a drug addict, and I arrived in clothes, which is actually a rarity in this department, they sent me to another building with a note)))
Because of the wild heat, I walked home in a T-shirt. Quite epic: a T-shirt, tights and a hand riddled with needles. The doctors said that “nothing, everything will be OK - you have a statement from us with you :) you can show it to the teaching staff.” Considering where the extract comes from, the statement is controversial :)
On the third day, in the evening, the site of the serum injection began to hurt, as the surgeon at the clinic said in the morning - this is normal and will last for a long time. I was not mistaken... It hurt for about a week.
At home the treatment was prescribed as follows:
-Liaton ointment - on the whole arm if possible (I applied it before bedtime)
- Aspirin as per instructions.
+3 days
The whole arm is one big bruise. It’s not like saying hello, holding something hurts.
The droppers left marks :)
+5 days
+6 days
+7 days
+8 days. New hematomas have appeared
+9 days
+10 days
+11 days
+12 days
By this time I could already write with a pen, but shaking hands was still painful. The expander was able to compress only after two weeks. Complete recovery of the hand took about 3 weeks.
Source and comments Nikita Kiselev
A few comments on the topic from here
Bockscar77 :
This summer my mother was bitten on the wrist. There was a bruise up to the shoulder. The hand is swollen one and a half times.
When bitten, do not forget about antihistamines. Suprastin, for example.
Driving is an unnecessary risk. If possible, you should ask someone to take you to the hospital where the serum is available. Or call an ambulance. It’s dangerous to drive on your own; you might not even get to the heap if you get into an accident. No tourniquets should be applied to the limb; it may result in amputation.
Just a tight bandage so that a finger or two can fit under it, this is to slow down the movement of the poison through the lymph.
I recently found and killed this snake. Very tenacious reptiles. On the remaining centimeter of the neck, she tried to turn her head towards moving objects. And her mouth opened. Some kind of horror film.
DE23RUS :
There are also fewer snakes in Kuban this year. Based on personal observations, I think this is due to some kind of anomalous demographic explosion among hedgehogs. They were overwhelmed...looking for this year and in the areas they killed all the reptiles from frogs to lizards.
syshell :
If the photo shows the same snake that bit the author of the text, then it is a swamp viper. A creature of increased toxicity and aggressiveness. If a “swamp girl” has a brood, she sometimes throws herself. Strikes proactively so that the baby snakes do not get hurt. Therefore, boots are a must in places where this creature can be found.
And from an ordinary black viper, yes - temperature and hellish sensations in places where there are bruises. She bit me too. I fucking climbed down for a berry... I was lucky, I hit it with one tooth, and I managed without the serum.
People die from the bite of the one in the photo. Blocher in a shirt was born that he managed to get somewhere else under his own power.
gvk: We have a huge number of vipers in the Leningrad region... you even have to walk around the area carefully and mow everything down.
A friend’s father was bitten by a viper right on his property. He didn’t close the greenhouse and she climbed in there and warmed herself from the entrance... he stepped on it. I drove to the hospital on my own and arrived already losing consciousness. 3 weeks in hospital. My leg still hurts. a year has passed.
You need to be more careful.
Nothing :
The viper strikes in doses. Which one? H...he knows, she probably doesn’t know herself.
There are dry bites, that is, no poison at all.
A snake will never leave itself without a supply of poison, never.
Therefore, many survive, even without medical help.
From so.
nehochuha :
We guys hit them with stones at the lake and showed off our skins. It’s dangerous for yourself and for nature, probably harmful, but there were too many of them there, near the moisture. There were no problems with serums in the southern regions. Recently, the karakurt spider has become widespread in the southern Volga region. This is a problem, because local doctors do not have the necessary funds; they said that the serum is provided by the Tashkent Institute. My father was bitten by a karakurt that got into his mitten at work, so he didn’t understand anything, then a fever began at home, a terrible ache, a slight panic. He walked to the medical unit, fortunately the city is small, and the entire department there is filled with groaning shepherds. The black widow is very aggressive during mating season.
kakoyto :
- Mr. Potashev!
- Yes, Mr. Presenter!
- Imagine that you are walking through the desert with Mr. Druz and a cobra suddenly bites him on the penis. Attention, question: What needs to be done to save Friend?
A minute has passed... PIIIIII...
- So, gentlemen, who is responsible?
Potashev: - I will answer, Mr. Presenter. I believe that it is necessary to suck the poison out of Mr. Friend's penis!
- Answer accepted. Attention, the correct answer is: - Gentlemen, everyone knows that a cobra never bites above the knee. Therefore, if a snake bit Mr. Friend on the penis, then he, the penis, is below the knee. And if he has such a penis, then Mr. Druz can suck himself off. 1-0 in favor of TV viewers!
Mikhalyvanych :
Vipers have hemolyzing poisons, those that destroy blood cells and blood vessels. Such bites lead to tissue necrosis and subsequent amputation or spread of the rotting process to adjacent tissues. Therefore, arguing from the point of view of “immediately move your horses or suffer” is somehow stupid.
Those who write here about how dangerous it is only for allergy sufferers do not fully understand the essence of the action of viper venom. You may not die, but you may lose a limb and become disabled. There are a lot of options, actually.
And not only death should be feared, but also other consequences that will greatly reduce the level of comfort for the rest of your life.
Fifty grams of vodka inside will help against a reptile bite, but not sucking the poison out
Summer residents and tourists going to forests near Moscow, they trumpet: “There are more snakes,” “Vergenes are literally swarming under our feet,” “We are afraid to let children and dogs into the forest.”
Has the population of poisonous snakes really increased in the Moscow region? What can provoke their aggression? What to do if the snake does bite? In what case can it happen? death? - we asked the scientist-naturalist, the most famous snake catcher in the country, a former venom extractor in the serpentarium, Alexander Ognev, and the leading herpetologist of the Moscow Zoo, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences Dmitry Vasilyev.
Usually, encounters with vipers occur at the interface between environments: a swamp - the edge of a forest, a mowed part under a power line - the edge of a forest, garbage in a summer cottage - a vegetable garden. Photo from personal archive.
“The snake is smooth, the viper is velvet”
Alexander Ognev has just returned from the upper reaches of the Volga. On the border of the Moscow and Tver regions, he caught frogs for his pet snakes. His apartment has been reminiscent of a real zoo for four decades now. One room is completely dedicated to enclosures, terrariums, and aquariums. There are about 70 snakes alone. He is especially proud non-venomous snakes, which with their “shirts” disguise themselves as poisonous ones. While I was getting frogs for my pet snakes, I also caught a couple of vipers for the Moscow Zoo.
“My vision is no longer good, but I feel snakes intuitively,” says the herpetologist. “We caught those who hissed and gave themselves away.” I probably missed another 30 or so that were silent. Now it is no longer the season for catching, the grass has grown, the snakes, having warmed up in the sun, run away quickly.
— What poisonous snakes are found in Moscow and the Moscow region? Who should we be afraid of?- I ask the naturalist.
— The only poisonous snake that lives in the Moscow region is the common viper. It is also called fire viper and marsh viper,” says Alexander Ognev. — Among all the snakes in the world, it has the most extensive range - distribution area: from Great Britain and northern Spain to Lake Baikal. Most of range falls on the territory of Russia. We can say that this is the most “Russian snake”. The common viper can also be found in Siberia. The rivers there flow from south to north and are a carrier of heat.
— Can a viper be confused with any of the non-venomous snakes?
“In the same territory, perhaps a little to the south, there lives an ordinary one. It is black or dark gray. At the base of its head it has two spots - yellow, gray, white, orange or pink. There may be snakes without spots. Sometimes they are such a dark gray color that the spots blend into the general background and are not visible. The grass snake has smoother scales, so it shines in the sun. And the viper is like velvet, it has a comb on every scale.
The grass snake is a fast-moving snake; when in danger, it curls up into a tight ball and hisses. If he sees that the danger has not passed, he can pretend to be dead. At the same time, it emits a terrible odor reminiscent of garlic. For this purpose it has special anal glands.
“Vipers and snakes prefer different biotopes - habitats, vipers - the edges of swamps and clearings, and areas near rivers and lakes,” says Dmitry Vasiliev, in turn.
- What about the copperhead?
— This snake belongs to the family of colubrids. It is not dangerous for humans,” explains Alexander Ognev. — The place closest to our strip, where it is very rarely found, is the south of the Tula region. The copperhead lives in the mountains and steppes. Its diet is based on fast lizards. Unlike the viviparous lizard, which lives everywhere in our Moscow region, sand lizard incubates eggs in the sand, therefore gravitates towards the forest-steppe, steppe zones.
- You can say that last years Has the population of snakes in the Moscow region increased?
— On the contrary, there are fewer and fewer snakes in the Moscow region. These are people who are “creeping away”. More and more so-called inconvenient land is being distributed for summer cottages - land unsuitable for agricultural work. These are tall, mixed forests, sphagnum swamps - exactly the places where vipers live. They simply have nowhere to go, which is why they catch people’s eyes more often. And the snake population is decreasing. Roads are being built, construction is actively underway, forests are being cut down, thereby reducing the places suitable for wintering snakes.
— What places should you avoid to avoid encountering a viper?
— In the spring they are close to their wintering areas. And wintering grounds for vipers can be quite widespread. For example, Nikolsky’s vipers overwinter in numbers of 2 thousand,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. - Thus, in the spring there can be a lot of snakes in a small clearing. And then, after molting and mating, they spread out. According to research, females usually migrate close, up to 800 meters, and males can crawl up to 11 kilometers. In the fall, they crawl to the places where they spent the previous winter.
In spring, when there is little sun, vipers can be found in some open places. And in summer they can be seen early in the morning and in the evening. Usually, encounters take place at the interface between environments: a swamp - the edge of a forest, a mowed part under a power line - the edge of a forest, garbage on a summer cottage - a vegetable garden. Vipers do not just like forests or open fields; they are there only as migrants. And here permanent places where they spend the night are associated with shelters, these should be shaded places where they can hide - holes, heaps of branches, and so on.
- So there are no vipers in the dense forest?
“They need to be able to warm up somewhere in the open.” If this is a forest, then there should be a clearing nearby.
— What are the most “snake” areas of the Moscow region?
“These are the Savelovskoe and Volokolamsk directions,” says Alexander Ognev. — Near Volokolamsk the viper has now been practically knocked out; near Dmitrov and Iksha they still remain. A sufficient number of outbreaks have been preserved in the area of Taldom and Dubna.
- I will agree. Traditionally, there are a lot of snakes in the Savelovsky direction, near Konakovo and Verbilki,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. — Also in the Shatursky direction, in the Dmitrovsky district. At one time, between the “119th kilometer” and “Temp” platforms, I caught 40 vipers in half an hour.
- Is it true that the viper does not attack a person first?
— First of all, I would like to note that Russia has a very safe environment. It greatly discourages our compatriots,” notes Alexander Ognev. “That’s why I’m not at all surprised that in Cambodia only Russian tourists are pricked with sea urchins, because not a single European would think of stepping on one.” sea urchin. Or stick your fingers into the crevices of the coral to see if a moray eel is hiding there. Great amount dangerous animals live further south. Take Turkey, where there are not only poisonous snakes, but also poisonous spiders, fish, jellyfish. In central Russia, one should take it as a common rule: do not go into the forest barefoot or in shorts. And the worst thing there is not a viper, but a tick, which can give you a whole bunch of diseases. And the mortality rate from the viper is very low. She doesn't chase people, she never attacks herself. This is a rather cowardly creature; in case of danger, it will try to run away. The only thing is, if you come across a pregnant female, it will be difficult for her to quickly disappear, she will curl up into a ball, begin to hiss and defend herself. What are our people doing? They start hitting her in the face with a slipper, and the snake, accordingly, bites their leg. Then they say, “A snake attacked me.” In fact, they were the ones who attacked the viper.
I know several places in the Moscow region where they coexist perfectly local residents and vipers. Snakes have their own “patch”, they do not leave this territory, there is an excellent food supply there, full of rodents and frogs. And the villagers, accordingly, do not interfere in their snake “state” and do not disturb the reptiles.
You have to be careful when picking berries and mushrooms. Before you step into the grass, move a stick along it. But there is no need to hit the bush with a stick. There were many cases when mushroom pickers accidentally picked up a snake, lifted it with a stick to their face, then were horrified: “A viper jumped on me.” She can't jump 1.5 meters! The viper can throw upward a maximum of 10-15 centimeters. Sneakers, high boots or boots can serve as protection. The snake does not bite through them; the length of its teeth is 4-5 millimeters.
- If a viper sees a person, it will follow him. Before he steps on her, she will make her presence known by hissing,” says Dmitry Vasiliev, in turn. - If the viper is heated, you won’t even see it, it will run away so quickly, it will only rustle the grass. Bites occur when people try to play with the viper, pick it up, or accidentally step on it or sit on it.
— At what time of day are snakes active?
“They usually go out half an hour before dawn and take positions where they can bask in the sun. “They sunbathe” until 9 am, and when they warm up, they go into hiding, says Alexander Ognev. — A snake can be seen during the day. These are so-called fattening snakes that are in search of food. The second peak of snake activity begins after four o'clock in the afternoon and lasts until sunset. My latest discovery of a viper was around 10 p.m.
“No tourniquets or immobility: let the poison dissipate”
— What to do if the viper does bite?
- Firstly, when you go into the forest, you must remember that you are the enemy there and that you are going into someone else’s territory. And you need to dress appropriately. Secondly, you need to put at least suprastin in your pocket. The fact is that the danger from a bite, according to my observations, is largely due to an allergic reaction to the poison. The poison is protein, and different people they react to it differently. Death is usually associated with anaphylaxis. Swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx can develop within 2 minutes - and the person dies.
I don’t have any allergies to viper venom; some of my snake-catching friends had swelling in their face and nasopharynx, and some had difficulty breathing. To avoid this, you need to take some kind of antihistamine with you to the forest: tavegil, claritin, cetrin, pipolfen. For example, I always had diphenhydramine with me. This medicine, in addition to everything, also has a powerful sedative effect - it relaxes and relieves pain, which is important when bitten by a snake.
If you not Small child, but as an adult or teenager, a viper bite is unlikely to be fatal for you. Yes, it hurts, you will get sick. Teenagers or women can spend a week in bed. Men, being more massive creatures, cope with a viper bite in three to four days.
(Alexander Ognev knows what he’s talking about. Poisonous teeth sank into him 91 times. 20 years of work in the serpentarium had an effect. Plus, during the capture, the herpetologist was touched by: green rattlesnake, copperhead, steppe viper, Caucasian viper, common viper, bamboo keffiyeh, etc.)
— How correctly do those who try to suck out the poison from a wound act?
“It has more of a psychological effect.” It’s not a bad lesson, but don’t forget about placebo (from the Latin placebo, a substance without obvious medicinal properties, used as medicine, the therapeutic effect of which is associated with the patient’s belief in the effectiveness of the drug. - Author). Of course, you won’t suck out any poison there, but your mouth has occupied itself with something and is already distracted from the perception of the bite. We have to hear a warning - the main thing is that there are no wounds or caries in the mouth. All this is nonsense! I remember how a colleague of mine, who was present at a performance by visiting guest performers in Sochi, volunteered to drink snake venom that he had drunk right on stage. Everyone around, including the fakir, was speechless. And Igorek is a professional with capital letters- knew well that poison only works if it enters the blood. Even if there are sores or cuts in the mouth, it is difficult to imagine the rapid absorption of protein into the body. Viper venom is not an ointment that is absorbed into the skin.
“In the French Legion, for example, soldiers are given a special locking syringe with which they can suck out snake venom,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. - It is believed that in this way it is possible to remove somewhere around 10-15% of the poison. But it should be noted that snake venom contains a special enzyme - hyaluronidase, which instantly removes the venom from the bite point. And it is better not to do any traumatic effects, in particular cuts, treatment with some chemical agents such as potassium permanganate. Because of all this, you can subsequently limp for the rest of your life, lose a finger, and so on.
— Someone tries to apply a tourniquet when bitten by a snake. This is right?
- There is no need to do this. It’s just better if the poison disperses throughout the body,” says Alexander Ognev. “It’s bullshit that the poison can be stopped somewhere.” One of the enzymes contained in viper venom causes tissue necrosis. If you apply a tourniquet, the likelihood of necrosis increases, gangrene begins - and you will have to amputate the part on which you applied the tourniquet. Any intoxication is measured in milligrams of poison per kilogram of weight of the bitten person. I believe that when a snake bites you, the whole body should “work”, and not the part where the snake bit you. Let the poison dissipate. General poisoning will be more noticeable, but overall it will pass much faster and easier. I had a record of four hours.
When bitten by a snake, most guides advise staying still. I did the opposite. Firstly, I drank alcohol, alcohol has a wonderful property, it works as a vasodilator. Secondly, I kept moving. A snake bit me left hand, I worked intensively with a brush, the same way when blood is taken from a person’s vein. My hand swelled very quickly and I began to feel dizzy. After two hours, severe itching began, and this is usually a signal that the poisoning has ended and the body has begun to fight. After 4 hours the swelling began to subside.
- You definitely need to keep this in mind when you sleep. On the first night after a bite, many people cannot sleep due to severe pain. Most often, a snake bites a person on the hand. It swells so much that it hurts even to touch it. At night, you need to build a pyramid out of pillows and place the bitten hand 15-20 centimeters above the heart; if it is lower, it will be much more painful due to the rush of lymph and blood.
— When bitten by a snake, do you need to drink more fluid?
- This is true. I went through various options, watermelon came first, followed by beer and coffee. All of them have good diuretic properties. If you are in the forest, make tea and throw in a handful of lingonberry leaves. Lingonberries also have a pronounced diuretic property. The fact is that poison is eliminated from the body only through the kidneys. Therefore, we need to write, write and write again. And for this you need to constantly refill your body with water.
— Why do they say: if you are bitten by a snake, never drink alcohol?
“Our people, for the most part, don’t know how to drink alcohol in small portions, and after drinking a fair amount of it, they lose touch with reality and become disoriented. For myself, empirically, I found the right dose, this is 50-70 grams of vodka. No more, alcohol should work as a superficial vasodilator. I also used fresh water with the addition of dry wine. Acidic environment disinfects, you never know what kind of E. coli you pick up from the local pond.
“There are those who apply half a cut onion to the bite site. Does this have any effect?
- There is no use in doing this. There is no more poison at the site of the bite, says Dmitry Vasiliev. — There is such a demonstrative experience. U guinea pig They shaved spots on both sides down to bare skin and injected poison tinted with methylene blue into one point, and saline solution with methylene blue into the other. The area of the spot where the poison was injected was a hundred times larger than the place where the saline solution was injected. That is, the conductors in the venom instantly lead it away from the bite point. It “flies away” to the nearest lymph node.
Unless there is an allergic component, the viper's venom is not strong enough to cause death in an adult. But if within an hour after the bite there is a severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding from the mucous membranes, clouding and loss of consciousness, a feeling of flashing light in the eyes, the person must be urgently taken to the hospital.
Herpetologist Alexander Ognev was bitten by poisonous teeth 91 times. Photo from personal archive.
“You cannot use a serum prepared from the venom of other snakes against a viper bite.”
- What do you say to those who, going to the forest, take with them an antidote - ampoules with anti-snake serum?
“The fact is that allergies to serum are more common than to poison,” says Alexander Ognev. “We must remember that this is not a vaccine, this is serum that is obtained in biofactories. To make it, snake venom is injected into the body of a horse or mule. They give an injection containing poison in a dosage significantly lower than the lethal dose. Then gradually increase the dose. Antibodies accumulate in the animal, then blood is taken from it, blood cells are separated, and pure plasma is used to prepare serum. Such horses and mules are worth their weight in gold. I want to warn you: you cannot use serum prepared from the venom of other snakes against a viper bite.
And it’s better if they inject it into you medical institution. Doctors will first do a test, an injection with a minimum dose and look at the reaction so that there is no redness. Then the serum will be injected subcutaneously, but not with one injection, but eight to ten, in small doses, injected into the bite site. I have never injected serum in my entire life. I repeat: if you are bitten by a common viper, if you are an adult, it is not necessary to do this.
— If you go to the nearest hospital, can you be sure that they will have anti-snake serum in stock?
“I don’t know what their situation is now.” Previously, the pharmacy where you could buy the serum was guaranteed to be located on Tishinskaya Square. The whey was produced in Stavropol and Nizhny Novgorod. Now you can buy it online. (“MK” checked and made sure that there are more than enough offers. An ampoule with serum against the venom of the common viper costs 450-550 rubles. The shelf life is no more than a year, it must be stored in the refrigerator. It is freely sold to private individuals. The courier is ready to deliver the serum to any point.)
“There may not be serum in small rural hospitals, but it is always available at the Poisoning Center of the Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Medicine, at the Filatov Children's City Clinical Hospital No. 13, as well as in regional hospitals,” says Dmitry Vasiliev.
— How does viper venom affect cats and dogs?
- About the same as for a person. Sensitive to snake venom dogs large breeds Malos group,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. — Dogs most often receive a bite in the area of the nasolabial triangle, that is, when they sniff a snake. Swelling develops quickly and dogs may have difficulty swallowing food or water. And, for example, hunting dogs and dachshunds tolerate snake bites quite easily. In cops and drathaars, symptoms of poisoning spontaneously disappear after 6 hours, which does not exclude future complications associated with the kidneys. Large breed dogs may experience heart murmurs, wheezing, and pulmonary edema. Therapy for dogs is the same as for humans. In the hospital they are injected with anti-snake serum. And then they produce symptomatic treatment: if the pressure drops, they raise it, “drip” antihistamines and painkillers.
— Could other types of poisonous snakes appear in the Moscow region due to warming?
“Due to warming, other species may appear, but we must take into account that the formation of a species takes about 5-6 thousand years,” says Alexander Ognev. — The closest point where there is a viper is the spurs of the Talginsky ridge, northwest of Makhachkala. The northernmost point where there is a cobra is the desert and the Ustyurt plateau of the same name in the west Central Asia, at the junction of the borders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
—Can a snake bite while in water?
— The viper swims, and quite well. Another thing is that it does not live where there are large bodies of water. And she easily swims across small rivers,” says Alexander Ognev. - In the river, if you grab it with your hand, of course, it can attack. But this is not her native element; in the river she is thinking about how to get away from you.
“I know for certain two cases when a snake bit a person in the water while trying to throw it away,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. - This is despite the fact that in order for a snake to bite, it must take a certain position. In order to throw the front third of the body forward, it needs some kind of solid support. And water is not very convenient for this. If someone mentions a snake in the water, then it is most likely a snake. They swim very willingly.
— Can a water snake be found in rivers near Moscow?
— The closest point to the Moscow region where there are water snakes is Saratov region, says Alexander Ognev. — Some diversity appears, starting from the Tula region. Nikolsky's viper, a copperhead that is not poisonous, already appears there. Closer to Volgograd you can meet the steppe viper and yellow-bellied snake. South of Volgograd - Sarmatian and patterned snake. The further south, the more types snake. But still this cannot be compared with the tropics, subtropics, the Caucasus and Far East.
— How can you protect your garden plot from snakes?
— In the morning, about 8 o’clock, when the sun is just starting to get hot, walk around your territory and inspect everything carefully. Usually snakes warm themselves and are motionless. To avoid encountering a viper at your dacha, perform hygiene in the area and remove construction garbage, says Dmitry Vasiliev. — If you see a faded snake skin, reclaim these places and fill up all the holes.
“It is impossible for the garden plot to have deposits of firewood, piles of boards, pieces of roofing felt left after repairs,” explains Alexander Ognev, in turn. — Few people are interested in neatly stacked firewood. But piled up, rotten boards and piles of garbage are an ideal place to hide rodents and lizards. A viper can also climb there and feel completely safe. Mow the grass regularly garden plot- and it will lose its attractiveness to lizards, shrews, voles, and vipers.
Many of us like to spend free time active: organize hikes in the forest with an overnight stay, go to conquer mountains, swim in reservoirs. Leisure gives not only unforgettable emotions and meeting with beautiful scenery, danger may await a person - vipers, which are also part of nature. Are you ready to meet them?
General information about the viper
The viper family includes 58 species. Snakes live in Europe, Asia and Africa. All representatives of the viper family are poisonous and dangerous to humans. They mainly lead a terrestrial lifestyle. The exceptions are:
Most numerous the following types vipers:
- steppe viper. The top of the snake is brown-gray in color, with a dark stripe running along the body. Lives in the steppes. The snake is small, has short fangs, and injects a small amount of venom into the victim. No deaths have been recorded after being bitten by this viper. Lives in the steppes Western Europe, in the forest-steppe regions of southern Russia, in the Caucasus, found in Crimea;
- Caucasian viper. A distinctive feature is its bright color. Color varies from yellowish-orange to brick red. The snake is not large, rarely grows to 60 cm in length. Only isolated cases of death from its bite are known. Distributed in the regions of the Western Caucasus and Transcaucasia, found in Eastern Turkey. In the northern direction it lives on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory;
- long-nosed viper. It got its name due to the presence of a soft spike at the tip of its muzzle, shaped like a nose. It lives in the northeast of Italy, in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, in Yugoslavia, Romania, in the regions of Asia Minor, in the mountains of Armenia and Georgia;
- noisy viper. The snake is large, with a thick body, reaching 1.5 meters in length. When an enemy is close, it emits a very loud hissing sound. The probability of death from a bite is 15–20%. Distributed throughout Africa;
- Gaboon viper. It has a thick body and grows up to 2 meters in length. The color of the snake is variegated and spectacular. The different colors form a clear geometric pattern on the surface of the snake. The snake is very calm and rarely attacks people. However, the bite of this viper almost always ends in the death of the victim: the snake has long fangs, which leads to the rapid penetration of poison into the body. Lives in Liberia, South Sudan, Angola;
- common viper. It comes in gray and brown colors, with a dark stripe visible along the body. Fatalities after being bitten by this snake are rare. Distributed throughout Eurasia.
Photo gallery: representatives of the viper family
The common viper has a simple coloration. Various colors form on the back Gaboon viper geometric pattern The Caucasian viper is brightly colored The snake has a powerful and thick body The steppe viper is a small snake The soft spike at the tip of the viper’s muzzle is similar to the nose
Viper ordinary people often mistaken for a snake. External signs snake, distinguishing it from a viper:
- there is no dark stripe along the ridge;
- uniform coloring;
- Below the head is a yellow collar.
The snake's distinctive feature is its bright yellow collar.
Unlike the viper, it is not poisonous.
The common viper can be found in many places:
- on forest edges;
- in the forest and spruce forest;
- V mixed forest with abundant grass cover;
- in the forest-steppe zone;
- on the banks of rivers and lakes;
- in the meadows;
- in rural gardens.
In summer, snakes make their nests in abandoned burrows of other animals, among large stones, under haystacks, in rotten stumps. They can be forced to leave their home either by human intervention or by lack of food. Snakes hunt at night: they catch small rodents and birds. During the day they sleep in the nest or crawl out to bask in the sun, lying on paths, stumps, and stones. In winter they hibernate, which ends at the end of April.
Why does a snake bite a person?
The snake has no reason to attack. The viper is not aggressive and, when it encounters a person, crawls away. A snake bites if it feels threatened - this happens when a person accidentally steps on it or invades its habitat. Vipers live in groups, choosing places suitable for wintering. In such areas, the number of snakes can exceed 90 individuals per 1 hectare. When entering places where vipers accumulate, a person is exposed to increased danger.
Vipers hibernate in groups
Feeling a threat, the viper first hisses, rises above the ground, and scares the person with threatening throws. If a person makes sudden movements, the snake attacks.
Before attacking, the viper scares the victim
The viper has large fangs in its mouth. The poisonous gland is located above the upper jaw and is connected to it by an arcuate duct. This shape of the duct makes rotation of the jaw possible, while the venom flows to the fangs without obstacles. When bitten, the temporal muscles located near the poisonous glands actively contract; the poison enters the person subcutaneously, intramuscularly or through a vascular canal. Upon penetration into a vessel, it spreads throughout the body instantly. The amount of poison is small, the snake uses it sparingly: it will take a long time to create a new portion.
In the viper's mouth there are two poisonous fangs, which the snake plunges into the victim.
Viper venom belongs to the group of hemovasotoxic poisons that can damage small vessels, destroy red blood cells and impair blood clotting. A snake bite is most dangerous in the spring: the venom contains more toxins than at other times. According to statistics, 1% of victims, most often small children, die from viper bites.
Vipers - excellent swimmers, so you can also find them in the water.
Vipers are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances through water.
Snake bites in water are rare. Vipers settle at a decent distance from the water and end up in it, crossing to the other side. The viper’s maneuverability in water is higher than that of a human; when threatened, the snake will try to swim away quickly.
Symptoms of a viper bite
The severity of symptoms from a viper bite depends on factors:
- body weight of the victim. The less a person weighs, the more pronounced the symptoms after a bite. Therefore, small children suffer it more severely than adults;
- localization of wounds from snake teeth. Bites in the blood vessel, surface of the head and neck;
- air temperature. At high temperatures, intoxication of the body occurs more actively;
- amount of poison. A viper bite can occur without injection of poison if the viper has recently sunk its teeth into a person or animal and a new portion of poison has not yet been produced.
Local symptoms:
Common signs of a snake bite:
- weakness throughout the body;
- dizziness;
- headache;
- tachycardia;
- nausea;
- vomit.
If a child is bitten or the venom of a viper gets into a vessel, the symptoms appear quickly and are severe:
- violated motor function bitten limb;
- paralysis spreads to the entire body, affecting the facial muscles;
- breathing becomes intermittent and heavy;
- swallowing function decreases;
- heart function is disrupted;
- uncontrolled urination is observed.
First aid
Actions to take when bitten by a viper:
- Immediately go to the hospital or call an ambulance.
- Try to suck out the poison. This action gives results within 10-15 minutes after the snake bite, before swelling appears. The latter indicates that the poison has spread to the surrounding tissues and there is no point in continuing the procedure. The skin around the wound is folded and squeezed so that drops of blood appear. The sucked liquid is immediately spat out. The person sucking out the poison must rinse his mouth with a disinfectant solution after the procedure. If there is no antiseptic, use water to rinse.
- Treat the bite site with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or another antiseptic.
- Immobilize the bitten part of the body: with activity, the spread of poison throughout the body accelerates. If the bite is made in the hand, the limb is fixed in a bent position. If the bite is made in the leg, then it is tied to the second lower limb, and the victim is laid so that the legs are above the level of the pelvis. This pose stabilizes blood circulation.
- Apply a loose bandage to the wound. Use a bandage or clean cloth.
- To reduce swelling, periodically apply cold to the wound; the best option is ice. Every 5–7 minutes, the cold is removed from the bite site to avoid frostbite of the limb.
- The victim needs to drink a lot: about 3 liters of liquid. Use water, juices, soda.
- If possible, take an antihistamine: Zyrtec, Suprastin, Tavegil, Fenkarol.
Before receiving medical help, it is prohibited:
- use alcohol to treat the wound;
- apply a tourniquet (tight bandage) to the surface of the bite. This will provoke necrosis of the limb;
- cut the wound yourself to release the poison. There is a high probability of infection;
- apply earth or grass to the wound. There is a risk of contracting tetanus;
- the victim should drink alcohol, which increases intoxication of the body and reduces the effect of the anti-snake serum.
Video: how to behave correctly if bitten by a viper
Medical care in hospital
In the hospital, treatment of a viper bite occurs according to a certain scheme:
- Serum is injected.
- Infusion of glucose, Ringer's, and sodium chloride solutions is used to eliminate toxins from the body.
- Diuretics are prescribed (Furosemide, Trifas).
- The victim is given an antihistamine to take orally or administered intramuscularly, if this is not done before arriving at the hospital.
- A tetanus vaccination is given regardless of whether the person has been vaccinated regularly or not.
- Glucocorticoids (Dexamethasone, Prednisol) are prescribed, which have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects.
- To avoid a purulent process in the body, broad-spectrum antibiotics (Cefotaxime, Cefepime) are used.
- For preventive purposes, in order to prevent liver and kidney failure, hepatoprotectors (Berlition, Gepadif) are prescribed.
- In case of severe intoxication of the body, hemodialysis is performed.
- For symptoms of heart failure, Cordiamine and Caffeine are used.
- In case of excessive bleeding, blood transfusions are used.
- If the victim begins to have convulsions, calcium gluconate is administered intravenously.
When bitten by a viper, Serum is used against the venom of the common viper. It must be administered within a few hours after the snake bite. The serum contains antibodies that can neutralize snake venom. The antidote is based on horse serum. It is important to pay attention to some points:
- The serum is used only for a viper bite; if a person has been injured by other snakes, the antidote will not work. It is also prohibited to administer serums intended to neutralize the venom of other types of snakes when bitten by a viper. Previously, Antigyurza serum was used in hospitals, but its action was not always effective and it caused many side effects;
- The serum must be administered by a doctor. Improper use of antivenom can harm the victim. There is a possibility of anaphylactic shock because of allergic reaction to a foreign protein;
- The serum is administered subcutaneously in a dosage of 0.1 ml. If there is no allergic reaction at the injection site, another 0.25 ml of antidote is injected after 20 minutes. Then, after 15 minutes, the rest of the antidote is used. The doctor selects the required volume of administered serum based on the severity of symptoms;
- if poison intoxication is severe, the antidote is administered intravenously using a dropper.
Diagnosis of a viper bite
The hospital conducts a thorough diagnosis of the patient's condition. The necessary studies are prescribed:
- general blood analysis. Allows you to estimate the number of leukocytes, platelets, red blood cells, hemoglobin level;
- blood chemistry. Helps track performance internal organs. The toxic effects of the venom can affect the functioning of the kidneys and liver. Liver parameters are assessed: bilirubin, ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), alkaline phosphatase, albumin; kidney indicators: uric acid, creatinine, urea;
- Coagulogram is a test that helps evaluate blood clotting. The prothrombin index (PTI), fibrinogen, thrombosed time and other indicators are determined;
- general urine analysis. Helps track changes in the functioning of the urinary system;
- electrocardiogram. This test monitors abnormalities in the heart;
- chest x-ray. It is done if pulmonary edema is suspected.
Treatment prognosis and possible complications
If an adult is bitten by a viper, but first aid is provided correctly, the victim is quickly taken to the hospital, the prognosis is generally good.
When small children are bitten, the consequences are more severe and death can occur. Before arriving at the hospital, severe intoxication of the body may occur, which leads to liver or kidney failure. Therefore, it is important to get the child to the hospital as quickly as possible.
A pregnant woman has a high risk of intoxication not only of her own body, but also of the fetus. After a snake attack, you should undergo a thorough examination.
If a person refuses medical care after a snake bite, complications may develop:
- tetanus;
- lymphedema;
- phlebothrombosis.
There are bacteria in the viper's mouth, and after a bite there is a possibility of developing tetanus. It can also be caused by soil or dirty grass getting into the wound if hygiene rules are not followed. Symptoms of tetanus:
Tetanus is often fatal.
Lymphedema is a condition in which, due to infection, the outflow of fluid through the lymphatic vessels is disrupted, causing swelling of the soft tissues of the affected limb. Symptoms:
Conservative treatment of lymphedema does not always provide positive result, and often there is a need for surgical intervention.
Phlebothrombosis may occur in the bitten limb, which is characterized by the formation of blood clots in the veins. Symptoms:
Phlebothrombosis is treated surgically.
How to protect yourself from trouble
A viper bite can be avoided if you follow simple rules:
When stopping in the forest for the night, take steps to reduce the risk of a viper attack:
- create strong vibrations in the soil: stomp, jump. Snakes will leave such a place;
- close tents tightly. Press the edges of the tent to the ground with stones;
- do not leave clothes outside the tent;
- Be careful when moving through the forest at night. Snakes are also active at night.
A person is able to prevent a snake from attacking; the safety rules are simple and straightforward. If the incident has already occurred, do not panic: in a stressful situation we often take the wrong actions. Try to get medical help as quickly as possible and do not refuse it.
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