Phyton and snakes bites

 The NST news (http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/python-caught-in-oil-palm-plantation-1.388026?cache=03D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%252F%253FpFpentwage63Dp%253A%252Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.3D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%252F%253FpFpentwage63Dp%253A%252Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.111w5ii%25%2F7.478218%2F7.478218)regarding  Phyton echoed me to give my patients education regarding the snake bite . Before I become the doctor , I always hear people said about when poisonous snake bite you. You need to tourniquet so that the venom (poison ) won’t reach the heart and kill you. Is it the myth or the facts ?
Let me explain to you regarding the type of snake and how they prey on their victim before I elaborate further.

Snake naturally can be divided into venomous or non venomous snake
-Non venomous snake kill his prey by swallowing alive or kill by constriction. Phyton is a constricting snake.

-Venomous snake  kill prey by injecting venom .
Venomous snake mainly can be divided into 3 types-
Type 1 - Elapidae - commonly family of the snake is Cobra.
They kill their prey by  injecting neurotoxin. Some may produce cytotoxin. Neurotoxin may paralyses our breathing muscle and eye muscle. Human bitten by this snake may died of breathing difficulty. Earliest symptom of neurotoxin is drooping of eye lid.
Cytotoxin is toxin that may destroy cell. Severe venom injection may end up victim loss their hand or leg.

Type 2-Viperidae- commonly type of the snake is viper (ular kapak).
Viper kill their prey by injecting  hemotoxin which may cause serious bleeding problem which may cause bleeding problem and died.

Type 3-Sea snake
Contain both neurotoxin and hemotoxin . One of the most poisonous snake type as may cause both type of problem.

FAQ
What should you do when snake bites you?
You should go to nearest hospital or clinic.

Can I suck out the venom after tourniquet the wound?
It is not encouraged to do so as any small ulcer or injury in mouth may let the venom enter your body and cause poison effect . It is better to have one person save the others that injured by snake than having 2 person in similar trouble.


What the hospital Doctor would do?
They need to admit you and monitoring for potential toxin effect by doing examination and close observation. Severe toxin effect which affect the clotting of blood or nervous system may warrant antivenom.

Why do not every patient receive antivenom?
Antivenom is made of horse serum which carry the risk of causing severe anaphylaxis (allergy) reaction to patient. The usage of it need to be justified. Do no harm is the motto of treatment to patient.

I think with this piece of news and info may help you in understanding snake bites better. Hope it will enlighten you on the study.

Dr Khoo Kah Fang
Tanjung medical Centre.

Disclaimer
All advice and information on this news is given in good faith and is based on sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of release on the article. I do not accept legal liability or responsibility for the content of the advice or information or any consequences arising from its use.
The information provided on this news is provided for information purposes only. If you are a patient reading the news, you should seek assistance from a health care professional when interpreting these materials and applying them to your individual circumstances.