Signs of a viper bite in humans

The viper's bite represents a serious danger to humans. In this case, often the most dangerous is not the bite itself, but the consequences of incorrect and untimely first aid.

Vipers exist quite a lot. Acquaintance with them can spoil anyone, even the most long-awaited vacation. Therefore, you should always be ready: to know the behavior of the adder, its main features, habitats, rules and principles of first aid.

On the territory of Russia you can meet, for example, an ordinary viper. The snake has a light brown tinge. Along the body is a dark stripe. Pretty small snake, which has big fangs. She bites through her skin, injects poison into it. After the bite of the snake of this species, deaths were not recorded. It lives almost everywhere. But you can face more exotic species, and much more dangerous.

Is the snake bite dandy?

Bitten vipers, as a rule, immediately panic, and wonder how dangerous it is? Do you end the bite with death? What to do, where to run? Let's figure it out. Yes, a viper is certainly extremely dangerous. Her bite can be fatal. But death comes only if you panic, and will not take any action to help and remove the poison from the body.

So, the first thing to do is calm down, do not panic. You need to concentrate, and get ready for emergency measures to neutralize the poison and provide first aid. If everything is done correctly and quickly, deadly danger can be avoided.

Epidemiology

According to statistics, most bites are observed in the spring. This is due to the fact that in the spring snakes have offspring, and they become more aggressive, are forced to protect their young. Approximately 71% of bites are observed in the spring.

It was also noted that mostly bites occur in the morning (usually between 4 and 6 am), when the first rays of the sun begin to warm the earth. At this time, snakes usually go out to open areas, sit on stones that are well warmed by the sun. Approximately 44% of bites are at this time.

Statistics show that treatment is effective if you provide first aid on the spot, immediately neutralize the poison, and then deliver the victim to a medical institution. The effectiveness of treatment varies between 88 and 95%. If the first aid is not provided on the spot, a severe intoxication syndrome develops.

The effectiveness of treatment is reduced to 40-50%. If first aid is not given within the first 30 minutes after the bite, the risk of fatal outcome increases to 50-60%. If you do not provide first aid within 1-2 hours after a bite, the risk of fatal outcome increases to 85-90%.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6],

Causes of the viper bite

The cause of bite is most often inattention. One must understand that no snake will ever attack a person first. In numerous studies on animal psychology, it has long been proven that a snake attacks only for protection purposes, and never attacks the first. In addition, before attacking, it provides numerous warning and frightening signals. And only if there is no reaction, and the snake sees the approaching danger, it will have to attack for self-defense purposes.

Therefore, in order to avoid an attack, you need to be careful about everything around you. Going out into nature, a person forgets that he was in another world where his biocenoses are already formed, where life proceeds according to his long established laws. Everything in nature is in harmony. Man, as a rule, comes to nature as to his home, carelessly and disrespectfully stepping on forest roads and trails.

And it would be worth to show a drop of respect, attentiveness. Treat nature with respect and love, and nature will answer you the same. Before you take a step, look carefully at your feet, look at the path you want to go through. Perhaps, on your way will meet someone's nest, someone's hole. It's worth going around, behaving carefully, so as not to disturb the snake. Then you will not put her in a position where she will have to defend herself.

If you meet a snake on the path. She would prefer to hide in the nearby bushes. It attacks only from despair. Try to become so that the snake has the opportunity to escape. Do not stand directly in front of her. If the snake feels "cornered", caught, for self-defense, there is a reflex - to attack, to make a leap forward. Do not try to kick, push, catch, or hit the snake. Just step back from her path, and she will try not to mess with you.

Also the reason is inattention. The snake never attacks without warning. If the snake shrinks, raises its neck, arches and swells - it prepares to attack. It is better not to stand in her way.

Also, the cause of the attack can be a careless walk through the thickets, through the tall grass, along unchecked territory. Under the feet may well be a nest of a snake. If you "attacked" her nest, and even more so if there are children there, the snake will attack. Also the reason is non-observance of the elementary rules of caution. If you know that you have to walk through thickets, wear long pants, or special protective clothing.

[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Risk factors

The group of the claim is visited first of all by tourists who visit various corners of nature, walk through forests, thickets, mountain trails. If you spend the night in nature, climb the rocks, caves, the risk of attacking the snake increases significantly. Also at risk are researchers: biologists, especially zoologists, entomologists, who spend a lot of time in natural environments: forests, reserves, reserves, research facilities, biological stations. And people who have constant contact with animals in that, number, and with snakes also risk: employees of zoos, owners of terrariums, circus performers, representing numbers with snakes, and other animals, etc.

[13], [14], [15], [16],

Pathogenesis

At the heart of pathogenesis is a violation of the integrity of the skin, which occurs as a result of the bite of the snake, and through which it injects the poison into the body. In the place of the bite there is a depression, a place from a wound and a bite.

Around may develop swelling, or redness. This is explained by the body's reaction to the action of substances that enter the body with a bite. It is a toxin that is a substance of peptide origin, which is quickly incorporated into the tissue metabolism and causes serious metabolic disturbances at the tissue and cellular level.

The most dangerous pathological processes are oxidative stress, toxic shock, disruption of the normal functioning of the Krebs cycle and the sodium-potassium pump. These processes represent a violation of biochemical processes and entail a violation of the entire hormonal background, immune status, the general physical state of the organism.

The next stage of the pathological process is the disturbance of the water-salt balance, intensive dehydration, disruption of the ratio between carbon dioxide and oxygen, which are manifested in the form of hypercapnia and hypoxia. These processes progress as the toxin accumulates in the blood. Gradually violated the activity of the basic enzymatic processes, which entails a violation of the processes of catabolism and anabolism.

First of all, the circulatory system suffers, in particular, the erythropoietic and thrombocyte system, which manifests itself in the form of intense hypoxia, which can progress up to a stable anemia and destruction of red blood cells. There is also a violation of the platelet link, as a result of which the function of blood clotting is impaired.

If the poison is not removed in a timely manner from the body, it will have a neurotoxic effect in which the nervous system is affected, myelin sheaths of nerve fibers, conductivity and excitability of the nervous tissue are destroyed. This is clinically manifested in the form of violations of peripheral nervous reactions: the pupils dilate, the nerve cells are damaged and destroyed, the sensitivity and reactivity of tissues and organs decreases.

The most dangerous is the violation of innervation of internal organs, including the respiratory system, heart, brain. The defeat of the cerebellum, respiratory center can cause inhibition of motor reactions, defeat of the respiratory muscles, until their complete failure. The processes may be accompanied by a decrease in the frequency of respiratory movements, up to complete apnea. It is also dangerous to disrupt cardiac activity, which can be accompanied by tachycardia, hypertension, up to cerebral stroke or myocardial infarction. The process can be accompanied by cramps, uncontrolled and unnatural movements and postures, tremor.

Severe dehydration in combination with progressive hypoxia and a lack of blood circulation can lead to tissue atrophy and complete disruption of the blood coagulation system.

How much does a viper poison after a bite?

It all depends on the individual reaction. So, in people who are prone to allergic reactions, hypersensitivity, the reaction develops much faster. Particularly dangerous bite for those who have increased the level of sensitization and allergization of the body, who is dominated by the immediate type of hypersensitivity reaction. At such people reaction comes already in some minutes, and even seconds after a sting. People who suffer from bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis also get here.

With a normal reaction of the body, the reaction to the bite can be observed after 15-20 minutes. A delayed reaction may occur a maximum of 30 minutes after the bite. During this time, it is necessary to provide first aid, otherwise there will be irreversible consequences.

[17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22]

Symptoms of the viper bite

The first sign is pain, which occurs directly at the site of the bite. So, with the bite of a viper releases a poison into the site of a bite, which is why a strong pain sensation arises. It is impossible not to feel this. Then immediately begins to develop a local reaction, which manifests itself in the form of redness and irritation. The site of the bite can undergo edema, as the snake releases a toxin that contains enzymes that cause a corresponding reaction.

Local reaction is observed after a few minutes and manifests itself in the form of local redness, hyperemia, edema, and an intense inflammatory process. Gradually irritation may increase, pain syndrome develop. Pain can be strong enough. The local body temperature rises, tissue metabolism develops.

Increases in local temperature, edema and inflammation usually occur in the direction of the interior of the tissues, and upward, which is associated with the spread of the poison inside the body (through absorption), as well as the activity of the heart muscle. A strong progression of the disease can lead to atrophy and complete necrosis of the tissues.

When the poison penetrates deep into the body, systemic reactions develop: circulatory disturbance, blood coagulation, headache, dizziness, weakness, lethargy, nausea and vomiting-typical symptoms of intoxication. After this, the nervous system is damaged, which is manifested by tremors, cramps, muscle tension, and less often by weakness. Also, hypertension develops, heart rate and frequency of respiratory movements increase. An arrhythmia can occur, the respiratory rhythm is broken, until the breath is completely stopped. All this is often accompanied by turbidity and loss of consciousness, coordination of movements is disrupted.

What does a viper look like?

The viper's bite looks like a small wound of a penetrating nature, in which a poison enters the body. This poison spreads quite quickly around the body, absorbed and causes an inflammatory and intoxication process. This causes redness, irritation and swelling. The danger arises from a tendency to allergic reactions: anaphylactic shock can develop.

The Gabon Viper is a bite

It differs in a thick body. Its length reaches two meters. It differs in motley color, brightness, expressiveness and flamboyance. On the surface of the skin you can find a beautiful interlacing of various geometric patterns. Usually this snake behaves quite calmly, the first never attacks. However, the bite of this snake is extremely dangerous and all known cases of biting result in fatalities. This is due primarily to the structure of the jaw snake apparatus: it has rather long jaws that penetrate deeply into the tissue when bitten.

Thus, the snake injects a poison that penetrates deep enough into the tissue, then quickly penetrates the blood and spreads through the body. It is impossible to save a person, because the poison reaches the brain very quickly, paralyzes the nervous system.

It is better not to meet such a deadly snake. It lives in Liberia, Sudan, Angola. It is better to avoid traveling to these areas to protect yourself. But if you still have to be in these areas, you need to protect yourself with special leather pants, which are tucked into boots. They prevent biting, do not allow the spread of poison. And you always need to carry an antidote with you.

The bite of the shitty viper

This snake is quite large, has a thick trunk, it can reach 1, 5 meters in length. It is easy to recognize: it makes loud noises, similar to hiss, especially if it feels danger, and if the enemy is close enough. Usually the hiss becomes very loud before attempting an attack. The bite is dangerous, but the probability of a fatal outcome is approximately 15-20%. The snake is common in Africa.

Bite of the Caucasian adder

As you can see from the name, with this representative snakes can be found in the Caucasus. It is a beautiful snake, attracting attention with a bright color. It can be of different colors, can even apoless in the sun, shine. Its color can pass from a delicate yellow to a rich orange.

Sometimes you can find a marble, brick-red snake. The size of this snake is quite small, its length reaches 60 cm. There are few deaths from this snake's bite, however, such cases are known. Lives predominantly in the territory of the Western Caucasus, Transcaucasia, and also in the territory of Eastern Turkey. Single representatives of this species can be found throughout the Krasnodar region.

[23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28]

The Bite of a Viper

Chess adder also causes a number of adverse effects, and can cause death. So, the bite of this snake is accompanied by the development of the inflammatory process, infection, a strong allergic reaction. The place of bite develops edema, redness of tissues, inflammation. Then the poison is absorbed into the body and causes systemic damage to the internal organs.

First, functional disorders develop, and only after some time irreversible structural disturbances can develop. This can not be allowed, so it is extremely necessary to provide medical care, full-fledged, in the conditions of a medical institution.

The Bite of the Steppe Viper

If you bite a viper - any, regardless of the type, you need to neutralize the poison. To do this, it is sucked from the wound, and spit. Also, to prevent an adverse reaction to a toxin that gets into the blood, you can give the victim an antiallergic drug, for example, suprastin, tavegil. There is nothing else to do, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible and wait for her arrival.

Before the arrival of an ambulance you need to provide the patient with immobility. In particular, it is important to immobilize the bite, which will slow the absorption of poison into the blood. It is also important to provide a plentiful drink. It is recommended to drink clean water.

After the ambulance arrives, the doctor will provide assistance on the spot. It is mandatory to introduce an antidote, as well as help on indications, symptomatic. The victim will be offered hospitalization, from which it is better not to refuse, because the poison of a viper is very dangerous with its long-term consequences.

Anti-intestinal therapy is required, during which all the poison that has got into the blood, internal organs is neutralized. Supportive therapy aimed at maintaining basic vital signs and normalizing disturbed functions is also conducted. It is also necessary to use symptomatic therapy aimed at eliminating the pathologies that have arisen.

The Bite of a Black Viper

The danger is that not only the local, but also the systemic reaction develops, during which poisoning develops at the level of the whole organism. As with any other bite, immediate removal of the poison from the body is required. This must be done in the first minutes after the bite, at the scene. After that, Serum "Antigadyuka" is introduced, which neutralizes the poison.

After this, mandatory treatment is required, since the poison causes serious damage from the internal organs and tissues. With special care and attention you need to treat people suffering from cardiovascular disorders. This is because the venom of the adder causes serious damage on the part of the circulatory system, adversely affects the function of hematopoiesis, can cause bleeding, disrupt blood clotting.

Also, the load on the heart increases, because it works in a tight mode. The heart rate, pulse, and pressure increase. All this also causes an increased burden on the kidneys, liver, respiratory system. Due to the fact that heart rate, pressure, pulse increase, both speed and volume of blood flow increase which requires more air, more oxygen. Therefore, the respiratory system is activated, respiration is increased.

It is also important to ensure reliable protection of the liver, since it is it that processes and neutralizes the poison, as a result of which its functional and structural state is disrupted, even an inflammatory process can develop (toxic hepatitis is quite common). The kidneys also remove processed metabolites, filter the primary urea, which contains the poison, or the products of its decay. Therefore, inflammation, and even necrosis, may develop.

The extreme degree of development of the pathological process is the development of renal, hepatic and cardiac insufficiency.

Vinegar bite for the baby

At the child the metabolism is developed much more strongly, responsibly, and the reaction comes more quickly. The poison is much more quickly absorbed into the blood, it affects the internal organs. The lesions of the internal organs are much more serious than those of adults. The consequences are often irreversible. Therefore, if you bite a snake, you must immediately suck the poison. It is effective in the first 1-2 minutes, then the poison is already absorbed into the blood. Instantly develops edema, an allergic reaction. Even anaphylactic shock may develop, in which the child loses consciousness, the pulse falls, the pressure decreases, the heart rate decreases, and a complete stop of the heart and breathing can occur.

If you go with a child on a hike where a snake can meet, you need to have the serum "anti-hood", which is an antitoxic serum, an antidote that destroys the toxin and takes it out. But you need to take into account that this causes serious damage to the internal organs, which are vitally important. Therefore, inpatient treatment, hospitalization is required.

Treatment includes symptomatic, supportive, antitoxic therapy. Often the treatment is complex, and consists of symptomatic, drug treatment, physiotherapy.

Diagnostics of the viper bite

In order to diagnose poisoning caused by poisoning a snake, in particular a viper, a clinical picture is sufficient. First, in the place of the bite there is a trace, in particular, a wound with small depressions that have arisen from the teeth. In this hole in the skin is injected poison. When conducting a toxicological analysis, a snake toxin can be detected.

With a visual examination, there is a local reaction, which is accompanied by redness, inflammation, irritation, severe swelling. In the absence of treatment, the disease progresses, in particular, all signs of typical poisoning develop, such as weakness, respiratory failure, heart rate, nausea, vomiting.

When there are first signs of poisoning, including local reactions, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Before this, first aid should be given to the victim: neutralize the action of the poison. It can be sucked off, let out through the incision. It is advisable to give the victim anti-allergic drugs. On this usually first aid ends, and the doctor who provides first aid sees the clinical picture as a whole. Already on the basis of this can be diagnosed - a snake bite. Then, already on the site of first aid, you can accurately differentiate the sight of the snake. But often it is enough to know what the snake, in particular, the adder, has bitten, in order to determine the measure of rendering first aid. With viper bites, serum is used - an "antigas", which neutralizes the action of the poison.

The main means of diagnosis when bitten is an examination. Usually the doctor first interrogates the patient, collects general information about him, an anamnesis of life. It is very important to gather information on the circumstances under which a bite occurred: where, at what time, how long ago was a bite, how it looked, and how the adder behaved. Here the reason can be hidden. So, the doctor can accurately determine the appearance of the snake, which will allow the correct antidote and correct treatment to be applied.

Then the doctor conducts a history of the disease, that is, he knows exactly what the victim felt during the bite, what were the first symptoms, how quickly signs of lesions spread, whether there are systemic manifestations of pathology, or only local ones.

Anamnesis of the current disease is very important, because on its basis it is possible to judge the features of the course of the disease, to predict its further development and outcome. The doctor needs to know how long and under what circumstances a bite occurred in order to accurately calculate the possible outcomes of the disease and to know how quickly it will progress.

It is necessary to know whether any treatment has been carried out, what its effectiveness is, what other measures have been taken, how quickly after the bite, first aid was given, whether the poison was sucked, whether antitoxic serum was used.

Then the doctor examines the patient. Usually classical methods of research are used, such as palpation, percussion, auscultation. During palpation the doctor probes possible lesions, assesses the degree of hyperemia, swelling of tissues, local temperature. When auscultation, the doctor listens for breathing, palpitations. This allows us to judge whether the poison spread to the body, whether signs of systemic damage to the body, the progression of inflammation and intoxication. In terms of respiratory rate, heart rate, heart rate, blood pressure, we can judge the degree of progression of intoxication syndrome. With percussion, you can also identify multiple lesions, for example, foci of inflammation, swelling, and seals.

In case of insufficient data, the need to clarify the diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental methods of investigation may be prescribed, which depend on how much the disease progresses.

[29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36],

Analyzes

First of all, they resort to the appointment of classical clinical tests. These are tests: blood, urine, feces. With the help of these analyzes, it is possible to evaluate the general orientation of the processes occurring in the body. The importance and significance of these analyzes for diagnosis is that, based on these general data, you can determine the course of further diagnosis. This allows to exclude incorrect and unnecessary analyzes.

So, if the analysis shows a high content of eosinophils and an elevated level of histamine, an allergic process can be assumed. At the same time, the spectrum of further refining diagnostics is approximately understood. It makes no sense to conduct a study to identify a bacterial or viral infection, assign complex and unnecessary studies, you can concentrate efforts in the right direction and more deeply explore the alleged pathology.

For example, if you suspect allergies, allergic tests, an analysis of the total and specific immunoglobulin E, and the level of histamine are used to specify the data. A detailed immunogram may be required that will display the current state of the immune system. And absolutely senseless in this case will be various bacteriological crops, scrapings, viral and hormonal diagnostics, rheumatological tests or oncoproteins, etc.

Similarly, clinical analyzes narrow the range of possible diagnostic studies. So, they can point to an inflammatory, infectious, or allergic process.

Clinical analyzes can provide valuable information in terms of diagnosing the effects of poisoning, their effects on the body. With the help of tests, it is possible to guess which organs affected the poison, the degree of damage to these organs, whether the processes are reversible or irreversible. For example, if you detect a large amount of protein in the urine, you can talk about the development of the inflammatory process in the kidneys. By the amount of protein can be judged on the severity of kidney failure, the predisposition to develop kidney failure.

It is also advisable to carry out toxicological studies, during which determine the presence of toxin in the body, its concentration, quantitative indicators, and sometimes even localization in the body.

[37], [38]

Instrumental diagnostics

In most cases, the complex treatment that follows the delivery of emergency care requires careful diagnosis, which will allow to determine exactly which organs and structures have undergone changes in the body. Instrumental diagnosis can be quite diverse and depends on what is supposedly the cause of the development of lesions, and how the poison affected the body.

It is usually appointed after a preliminary examination and a patient's interview, when the doctor already has a presumptive diagnosis, knows which one, the snake has bitten, which organs are affected by the poison, how deep the poison has penetrated the body, and what pathologies had provoked it.

Instrumental diagnostics is appointed after the results of basic laboratory studies are already available, in particular, the results of toxicological research are required.

Methods for further diagnosis may be different. It all depends on which organs are affected by poison. As a rule, the poison enters the body, and first of all accumulates in the blood. With blood, it spreads throughout the body. At the same time they fall into various organs and tissues, but pathological changes occur only in those organs that are weakened, are at risk for pathology.

For example, a person suffering from chronic gastritis, or having a predilection for intestinal disorders, first of all there will be a relapse of the disease. So, if you suspect a GI disease, you may need a gastroscopy, a radiography, an ultrasound, a colonoscopy.

In a person with a weak respiratory system, frequent catarrhal and infectious diseases, influenza, bronchial asthma, in the first place, the poison will affect the respiratory system. The frequency of respiration may increase, the inflammation develop, and bronchial and alveolar narrowing may occur. If there is a suspicion of respiratory system diseases, a thorough investigation using spirogram, x-ray, functional tests is used.

Especially acute for the poisoning reacts the cardiovascular system, since most of the toxin accumulates in the blood, passes through the blood vessels, is pumped by the heart. The poison affects blood cells, negatively affects the blood coagulation system. So, for diseases of the heart and circulatory system, an electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart and other studies may be required. These studies are very important for people with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, because the circulation of the poison in the blood significantly increases the load on the vessels and heart. The risk of developing heart failure, myocardial infarction, toxic endocarditis increases.

For complex diagnosis may require magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to assess the state of the bone system and soft tissues, to identify possible pathologies in the earliest stages of their formation. This is very important, since the viper's bite is accompanied by the release of poison, which shows a high tropism not only to the nervous, but also to bone and muscle tissue.

Differential diagnosis

First of all, you need to determine which animal was bitten. The snake's bite has its own specific features. In particular, after a bite, a wound remains in the place of the bite, through which the poison is injected. In this case, usually visible are small traces of teeth that resemble punctures with a needle.

The poison spreads through the body, resulting in a local reaction. It manifests itself in the form of rash, itching, redness, swelling. This is the first sign of a bite, according to which the degree of defeat is differentiated. Edema appears in the event that the poison has already begun to be absorbed into the body, absorbed by nearby tissues. The deeper the absorption, the more swelling. This is one of the differentiating signs, by which one can judge the severity of the reaction to a bite, as well as the progression of the pathological process, the speed of its spread.

The systemic reaction indicates the defeat of the internal organs by poison, the penetration of poison into the blood and the progression of poisoning. In this case, you can clearly determine the amount of poison. For this, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are carried out. The main method that confirms venom poisoning is toxicological analysis, which allows to identify the poison in the blood or urine of the affected person, determine its concentration, quantity.

[39], [40], [41], [42]

Prevention

The viper's bite can be prevented if you follow the precautionary measures when traveling, hiking, walking in the woods, thickets.

You need to take care of nature, not to touch, not to frighten snakes. It is important to carefully examine the terrain before taking a step. Also, you should always wear long pants, take the serum Antigadyuk with you, be able to provide emergency help.

[43], [44], [45], [46],