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The trauma of a snake bite -

If you’re lucky enough to live in a part of the world where there are no venomous snakes, chances are you have never given much thought to the risk of being bitten by one.

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The trauma of a snake bite -

The horror of having a poisonous snake latch onto your ankle or leg probably hasn’t occurred to you if the only species of snake you’ve ever seen is a grass snake.

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Daily reality -

In some countries of the world, however, the possibility of being bitten by a dangerous or even deadly snake is a daily reality for lots of people.

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India -

A particularly popular place for venomous snakes to reside is India, where there are roughly 2.8 million cases of snake bites per year, and 50,000 deaths.

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Russell's viper -

One of the biggest biters in India is the Russell’s viper, a camouflage-colored snake that inhabits the country’s fields and is responsible for 43% of bites.

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Global issue -

The problem is not unique to India, however, and the global estimate for deaths caused by snake bites is between 81,000 and 138,000 every year.

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Risk of serious injury -

Many more people suffer serious injuries as the result of a snake bite. The venom can cause limb necrosis, which can lead to amputations, disfigurement, and even blindness.

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Statistics -

According to the Global Snakebite Initiative, around 2.7 million men, women, and children annually are left with serious injuries as the result of a snake bite.

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Antivenom -

It seems clear, then, that snake bites are a far bigger problem than many people realize. Part of the problem lies in the shortcomings of the main snake bite treatment: antivenom.

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The problem with antivenom -

While antivenom can be quite effective, it can be very expensive, and the complexity of snake venom often means that treatment with antivenom is difficult.

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How antivenom is made -

The process of producing antivenom is as as follows: the snake is first “milked” for its venom, and then that venom is injected into a horse, which produces antibodies.

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How antivenom is made -

The antibodies are collected from the horse and purified into an antivenom that can be injected into humans to neutralize any venomous toxins they may come in contact with.

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Low antibody levels -

Unfortunately, the number of antibodies in a given dose of antivenom can be low, meaning that multiple vials are needed to treat a single bite.

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Multiple vials -

There have been cases in the US, for example, where 100 vials were needed to treat a single bite. At a cost of up to $17,000 per vial, steep is an understatement.

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Generally expensive -

The price of antivenom does vary depending on where you are in the world, but it does tend to be pricey. People in rural communities in particular struggle to afford treatment.

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Rural areas -

This is a real problem, because in lots of countries it is the rural areas that are the most populated and affected by venomous snakes.

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Cocktail of toxins -

There is also the problem associated with the fact that each species of snake produces its own cocktail of toxins, and many countries are home to multiple species of snake.

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Case study: India -

India, for example, is home to 60 species of poisonous snake, and there is no specific antivenom for the majority of them.

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Case study: India -

The hospitals mostly use a multipurpose antivenom that is made using the venom of the four most common snakes: the spectacled cobra, the common krait, the saw-scaled viper, and the Russell's viper.

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Case study: India -

However, research shows that this multipurpose antivenom is largely ineffective when it comes to treating the bites of other important venomous snakes.

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Other options -

The accessibility and complexity problems associated with antivenom have prompted certain key players to look into other ways to combat the snake bite pandemic.

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Prevention -

As a preventative measure, one organization is providing the residents of Rathnapuri in Kanataka in southwest India with rubber boots and solar lamps.

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Prevention -

Since the residents often have to walk around at night barefoot, the lamps will help them see the snakes, and the boots will prevent the snakes from breaking the skin.

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Alternative drug treatments -

Some researchers are also looking into the possibility of drug treatments that don’t involve antivenom. One option involves DMPS, a drug that is used to treat heavy metal poisoning.

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Alternative drug treatments -

According to Laura-Oana Albulescu, who studies snake venom at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, it may be possible to use DMPS to treat bites by the saw-scaled viper.

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Alternative drug treatments -

There is a long way to go before such treatment is possible, however, and even if it does become possible it will not be a perfect, one-size-fits-all solution.

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Other work -

More promising is the work of groups such as the Asclepius Snakebite Foundation, who are training local doctors in Africa to manage snake bites.

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Other work -

There are also public health initiatives that help people protect themselves from being bitten by educating them about where snakes are likely to reside and how they can be avoided.

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Other work -

The Foundation also trains motorcycle taxi drivers in basic snake bite first aid so they are equipped to deal with passengers on their way to the hospital.

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Conclusion -

With approximately 4.5 million people being bitten each year, the problem with snake bites should not be underestimated. Work is underway, but there is a long way to go.

Sources: (BBC)

See also: Inside the world's deadliest garden

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