How long do you have after a venomous snake bite?

It might be obvious, but the thing to do if you are bitten by a venomous snake is to get to a hospital quickly and receive an antidote. Many people think that the venom kicks in instantly, but it can take between 20 minutes and 72 hours to die if left untreated.

You'll begin to see symptoms immediately, but your symptoms will worsen over time. Ideally, you'll reach medical help within 30 minutes of being bitten. If the bite is left untreated, your bodily functions will break down over a period of 2 or 3 days and the bite may result in severe organ damage or death.

If the bite oozes, that can be a sign of venom. After a venomous bite from a pit viper snake, you'll have: Redness and swelling, about 30 to 60 minutes after the bite. Bruising and tightness, appearing 3 to 6 hours after the bite.

Administered early, antivenoms are not just life-saving, but can also spare patients some of the suffering caused by necrotic and other toxins in snake venom, leading to faster recovery, less time in hospital and a more rapid transition back to a productive life in their communities.

A human can collapse within 45 minutes of a Black Mamba bite. Without treatment it can take 7 to 15 hours for a Black Mamba bite to kill you. The sooner a person is treated after the bite, the better his chances of survival. A Black Mamba antidote is administered where necessary, but some people may be allergic.

NEVER handle a venomous snake, not even a dead one or its decapitated head. Do not wait for symptoms to appear if bitten, get medical help right away. Do not apply a tourniquet. Do not slash the wound with a knife or cut it in any way.

Signs and symptoms

Visible in an hour or more after the person has been bitten. In children, signs and symptoms may appear within minutes. Paired fang marks, but often only a single mark or a scratch mark may be present. Marks or scratches may bleed.

82% did not die until at least 7 hours after being bitten, thus there should be adequate time in most cases to reach medical aid & receive antivenom as “no patient is too ill to receive antivenom, & even those with the most severe paralysis may recover”.

In terms of foods to avoid after a snake bite, there are no specific foods that are known to worsen the effects of snake venom. However, it is generally recommended to avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which could potentially exacerbate the symptoms of a snake bite.

If possible, take these steps while waiting for medical help:

Antivenin, also called antivenom, is a treatment specific to the venom of a particular animal or insect.

Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)

This snake, found in sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the most feared of all. Unlike the relatively docile inland taipan, the black mamba is known to be particularly aggressive. Although it does not seek out humans, when cornered or threatened it will rear up and strike repeatedly.

Notable bite cases

Danie Pienaar, who was at various times from at least 2009 to 2017 head of South African National Parks Scientific Services and acting managing executive, survived the bite of a black mamba without antivenom in 1998.

What is the deadliest snake? The saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus, is considered the deadliest snake in the world, according to Britannica. This type of snake is said to be responsible for "more human deaths than all other snake species combined."

In 1648, physician Guilherme Piso wrote that "the severed head of the very serpent causing the bite should be applied to the wound in the form of a plaster." American cowboys in the 19th century treated snakebite with a hot branding iron, while others of that era wrapped the bitten limb in a split chicken.

Rather than non-IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity, patients receiving the second treatment of antivenom may develop IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity. Once happened, the antivenom treatment should be stopped promptly and anti-allergy treatment should be given immediately.

Rattlesnake bites may be treated by killing a chicken and wrapping the warm body around the bite to draw the poison out.

Snake bites are either venomous (if the snake has injected venom into your body) or 'dry' (if no venom is injected). Snake bites may cause pain and swelling around the site of the bite, or there may be very few signs left on the skin.

Generally not aggressive, rattlesnakes strike when threatened or deliberately provoked, but given room they will retreat. Most snake bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing. The majority of snakebites occur on the hands, feet and ankles.

You can usually tell if the snake is about to strike by watching their tail. The positioning of the tail is what will eventually give them leverage and more lunging power. The snake will slowly move its tail into a tighter position and may even prop its tail up against something nearby to give it more leverage.

Also, do not give the victim anything to eat or drink since this can expedite the venom's absorption. Don't apply ice, a tourniquet, attempt to cut the wound or remove the poison. Also, do not immerse the wound in cold water, for this can necrotize the tissue and is sometimes more dangerous than the snake bite itself.

Fang marks: Generally, the presence of two puncture wounds indicates a bite by a poisonous snake. In the case of a non-venomous snakebite, small puncture wounds are seen arranged in an arc. Pain : Burning, bursting or throbbing pain may develop immediately after the bite and spread proximally up the bitten limb.

Permanent neurological injury from hypoxic encephalopathy is an important long-term effect of snake envenoming. Respiratory paralysis or cardiac arrest can both result in hypoxia and multiorgan failure. In many cases, this results in an early death, but some patients survive with significant neurological impairment.

Out-of-pocket costs can vary greatly,” she said. At UNC Health: A typical charge would range from $40,000 to $70,000 for the typical initial dose of four to six vials, said spokesperson Alan Wolf. The charge per vial ranges from $11,000 to $13,000.

Bites by venomous snakes can cause paralysis that may prevent breathing, bleeding disorders that can lead to a fatal haemorrhage, irreversible kidney failure and tissue damage that can cause permanent disability and limb amputation.

Ice: Do not use ice for snakebites! Ice causes the smaller blood vessels to constrict and when combined with viper venoms it can produce dramatic tissue damage. Again, better to let the swelling happen and focus on getting to a hospital.

The only standardized specific treatment currently available for neutralizing the medically important effects of snake venom toxins is antivenom 8,9,12.