PRINCIPLE MANAGEMENT OF SNAKE BITES WITH REFERENCE TO EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

2 Military Medical Academy

Abstract

Snakebite is a serious and important medical emergency encountered in worldwide. Snakes
are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. Like all other squamates,
snakes are ectothermic, amniotic vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Most species
of snake are nonvenomous and those that have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey
rather than for self-defense. Some possess venom enough to cause painful injury or death to
humans. Nonvenomous snakes either swallow prey alive or kill by constriction. The epidemiology
of snake envenomation varies widely between region and local knowledge is vital in
determining treatment.

Keywords