Snakes Flashcards
Classification of Snakes
Type of snake
Venomous
Non - venomous
Toxicity of venom
Neurotoxic (Colubridae, Elapidae)
Vasculotoxic
Myotoxic (sea snakes)
The Big 4 include
Common Cobra (Naja naja)
Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus)
Russell’s Viper (Daboia russelli)
Saw- Scaled Viper (Echis carinatus)
Common cobra
1.5-2 m
Hood
Spectacles monocle marking (under)
3th labial touches eye + nasal shield
Round pupil
Oviparous
King cobra
Not true cobra
2.5-4.5m
World’s longest venomous snake
Eats other snake
Raise upto 1/3rd of length and still move to attack
Builds nest
Hood (no spectacle markings)
Injects 40 times FD in single bite
Components of colubridae venom
Neurotoxin (respiratory + cardiac centres)
Cardiotoxin
Phospholipase
Phoshotidase
Cholinesterase
Ribonuclease
Proteolysin
Fibrinolysin
Hyaluronidase
Protease
Thromboplastin
Components of viperidae venom
Haemotoxic
Haemolytic (cytolysis of cell, vascular endothelium, RBCs)(coagulation disorder)
Proteinase
Hemolysin
Leucolysin
Cytolysin
Haemorrhagin
Lecithinase
Phospholipase - A
Hyaluronidase
Thromboplastin
Protease
Dry bite
Bite of poisonous snake without injecting venom
Postmortem findings in Snakebite
Fang marks (2 bites)
Elapid bite
Minimal local changes
Congested brain
Viper bite
Oozing blood
Swelling
Cellulitis
Haemorhhagic lungs
Leaking blood in serous membranes (pleura + pericardium)
Haemorhhagic organs
Lymphs (swollen+Haemorrhagic)
Sea snake bite
Rhabdomyolysis
Congested kidneys
Venom found in milk / saliva / urine.
MLI of snake bite
Ingesting venom - not poisonous (proteins in venom are digested in GIT)
(Sucking venom is safe until abrasion in mouth)
Cattle poison (earthen vessel + snake + banana is heated, irritates, bites, pulp into rectum by bamboo)
Accidental
Suicidal (Cleopatra)
Method of execution (deep pit)
Sui / Sutari
Sharp tapering needle made by Abrus.
Soaked…decortified…mixed datura / opium…paste…dried.
Uses
Cattle poison (2 sius fixed on bamboo…stabbed / hit on skin)( resemble 2 flangs of viperbite)
Inflammation + oedema + necrosis + oozing…dies in 3-5 days
Homicidal (between 2 fingers…person slapped)
Clinical features of sui
Systemic
Weakness
Faintness
Vertigo
Anorexia
Titanic convulsions
Low temperature
Coma / death (3-5 days)
Local
Pain + swell
Oedema
Ecchymoses
Inflammation
Oozing haemorrhagic fluid
Necrosis
2 needle prick marks (resemble viper snakebite)
Management of sui
Sodium bicarbonate (urine alkalinity)(prevents RBC agglutination)
Diazepam
Symptoms in vasculotoxic viper bite
Local
Pain
Tender
Redness
Persistent bleeding (constant feature)
Swelling (entire limb…muscle compartmental syndrome)
Oedema
Discoloration
Ecchymosis
Necrosis + gangrene
Blisters (blood /clear)(entire limb)
Suppuration
Sloughing
Regional lymphadenopathy
Systemic
Low platelet
Incresed BT + CT
Urine (RBC, Sugar, Protein, Hb)
Acute Renal failure
Epitaxis
Haemoptysis
Subconjuctival haemorhhage
Gingival bleeding
Bleeding ( GIT, pertonium, Urine)
Brain
Intracranial haemorrhage (severe head ache)
Intracerebral haemorrhage (convulsion + hemiplagia + unconsciousness)
Ant. Pituitary bleeding
CVS (cause of death)
Hypotension
Tachycardia (haemorrhagic shock)
Dilated pupils
Blurring of vision
Symptoms of musculotoxic sea snake bite
Systemic
Headache
Thirst
Sweating
Vomit
Stiffness
Weakness
Muscle tenderness
Muscle weakness (persists)
Rhabdomyolysis (myoglobinemia + myoglobinuria + hyperkalaemia)
Acute renal failure
Urine (dark reddish brown)
Death by cardiac arrest / respiratory paralysis.
Symptoms of neurotoxic cobra bite
Bite fang mark
Minimal swelling
Oozing bloody fluid
Systemic
Vomit + nausea
Headache
Vertigo
Sleepiness
Convulsions
Ptosis
Blurry vision
Diplopia
Muscle weakness + paralysis
Dysphonia ( palate + vocal cord)
Dysphagia ( jaw, tongue, pharynx)
Respiratory failure
Hypoxia + acidosis
Coma / death
