Consumer Information

Snake Bite

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A snake bite is a wound that you get from being bitten by a poisonous snake. Poisonous snakes in the United States include coral snakes and pit vipers such as rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. They inject venom (poison) when they bite that can damage your muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. When venom is released during a bite, it enters your tissues and spreads to other body parts. Snakes often bite when they are stepped on or picked up. Snake bites are more common from April to September when snakes are more active and people spend more time outdoors. When you are bitten, see a caregiver as soon as possible.
Signs and symptoms of a snake bite may appear a few minutes to hours after the bite. You may have pain, swelling, redness, or numbness (no feeling) in the area of the bite. Later as the venom spreads, you may throw up, have a fever or seizures (convulsions), stomach pains, or bleeding. Your caregiver will try to tell what type of snake bit you and he may do blood tests. The main treatment for a poisonous snake bite is anti-venom medicine and a tetanus shot. You may also need antibiotics for your wound or surgery to remove the damaged tissues from it. Early diagnosis and treatment may help prevent your wound from getting worse or you becoming more sick.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatment for a snake bite may bring side effects. Anti-venom may cause allergic reactions, such as a rash, itchiness, fever, and muscle pains. You may also have an upset stomach, diarrhea (loose bowel movement), headache, or have trouble breathing. You may develop soreness, redness, or swelling in the muscle where the tetanus shot was given. Even with treatment, your wound may become worse, or you may get very sick from having the poison in your body.
Untreated snake bites may lead to more serious problems, such as swelling and infections. Severe swelling may press on the blood vessels and nerves in the area. The venom may spread to other parts of your body. You may have bleeding through your nose or other parts of your body. You may have trouble breathing and your blood pressure may become very low. You may have seizures, go into a coma, or die. People who have high blood pressure or bleeding problems are at a higher risk of problems. Ask your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your condition, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

Activity At first you may need to rest in bed. Your caregiver will tell you when it is OK to get out of bed. Avoid moving the part of your body where you were bitten. You may need a splint or elastic bandage to prevent your bitten limb from moving it too much. Ask your caregiver for more information and instructions on splint care.

IV: Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.

Monitoring:

Limb measurement: Your caregiver may use a measuring tape to measure around your bitten arm or leg. Your limb may be measured from time to time to see if it is getting larger. Limb measurement may be done every 15 to 20 minutes until the swelling in the bitten limb goes away.
Neurologic signs: Neurologic signs are also called neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. Caregivers check your eyes, your memory, and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested. This helps tell caregivers how your brain is working after an injury or illness. You may need to have your neuro signs checked often. Your caregiver may even have to wake you up to check your neuro signs.
Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a machine that tells how much oxygen is in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your ear, finger, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Caregivers use this machine to see if you need more oxygen.
Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Medicines: You may need any of the following:

Antibiotics: Antibiotic medicine may be given to treat an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
Anti-venom: This is the main treatment for poisonous snake bites. Most, but not all, poisonous snake bites need this treatment. This is most effective if given within four hours after you are bitten. It neutralizes the venom in your body, preventing it from causing more damage. You may need more than one dose of anti-venom. People who are allergic to papaya or other vaccines may be allergic to anti-venom. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any of these or have other allergies or medical conditions.
Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain. Medicine may be given regularly, or may only be given if you ask caregivers for it. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease enough for you to feel better. Do not wait to ask for your pain medicine until the pain is very bad. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Ask your caregiver for help getting out of bed if you feel tired or dizzy.
Tetanus shot: This is medicine to keep you from getting tetanus. It is given as a shot. You should have a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the past 5 to 10 years. Your arm can get red, swollen, and sore after getting this shot.

Tests: You may need one or more of the following tests:

12-lead ECG: This test, also called an EKG, helps caregivers look for damage or problems in different areas of the heart. Caregivers may need to prepare your skin by shaving off some hair, or cleaning it with a gritty lotion. Sticky pads are placed on your chest, arms, and legs. Each sticky pad has a wire that is hooked to a machine or TV-type screen. A short period of electrical activity in your heart muscle is recorded. Caregivers will look closely for certain problems or changes in how your heart is working. This test takes about 5 to 10 minutes. It is important that you lie as still as possible during the test. You may need this test more than once.
Blood gases: This test is also called an arterial blood gas or ABG test. Blood is taken from an artery (blood vessel) in your wrist, arm, or groin. The groin is the area where your abdomen meets your upper leg. Your blood is tested for the amount of "gases" in it, such as oxygen, acids, and carbon dioxide.
Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
Chest x-ray: This is a picture of your lungs and heart. Caregivers use it to see how your lungs and heart are doing. Caregivers may use the x-ray to look for signs of infection like pneumonia, or to look for collapsed lungs. Chest x-rays may show tumors, broken ribs, or fluid around the heart and lungs.
Stool sample: A sample of your stool or bowel movement (BM) is sent to a lab for tests to check for blood.
Urine test: A sample of your urine is collected and sent to a lab for tests.

Treatment options: You may have the following treatments alone or together:

Blood transfusion: During a blood transfusion, you will get whole blood, or parts of blood through an IV. Many people are worried about getting AIDS, hepatitis, or West Nile Virus from a blood transfusion. The risk of this happening is rare. Blood banks test all donated blood for AIDS, hepatitis, and West Nile Virus. If you refuse a blood transfusion, your condition may get worse, and you may die.
Dialysis: Dialysis cleans your blood when your kidneys cannot. Extra water, chemicals, and waste products are removed from your blood by a dialyzer or dialysis machine. The dialysis machine does this by passing your blood through a special filter, then returning it back to you. You may need dialysis for a short time, or for the rest of your life. Caregivers will check your vital signs often during dialysis. You may also be given medicines or have blood taken for lab tests during dialysis.
Surgery:
- Fasciotomy: This is surgery to cut tissues covering the muscles. This decreases pressure on blood vessels and nerves caused by swelling of the injured muscle.
- Wound cleaning: If the wound area of tissue damaged by venom becomes large, surgical cleaning may be done. Damaged and dead tissues from the wound will be removed with surgical cleaning.
Ventilator: A ventilator is a special machine that can breathe for you if you cannot breathe well on your own. You may have an endotracheal tube (ET tube) in your mouth or nose. A tube called a trach may go into an incision (cut) in the front of your neck. The ET tube or trach is hooked to the ventilator. The ventilator can also give oxygen to you.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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