Diagnosis, Treatment Methods and Preventive Measures for Snake Venom Poisoning in Animals
1. Diagnosis
Based on the history of a venomous snake bite, combined with two needle-tip-sized fang marks at the wound, local edema, oozing blood, necrosis and systemic symptoms, a diagnosis can be made. If the wound shows 2 or 4 rows of even, fine, small serrated shallow tooth marks, with no local or systemic symptoms, it is mostly a non-venomous snake bite. When necessary, use an appropriate monovalent specific antivenom, and use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect specific snake venom antigens in wound exudate, serum, cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids, so as to determine which snake venom is involved. This disease should be differentiated from bites by venomous spiders and other insects.
2. Treatment
After a venomous snake bite, emergency measures should be taken. The treatment principles are to prevent the spread of snake venom, carry out detoxification and neutralization as soon as possible, and combine this with symptomatic treatment.
(1) Local management
This mainly includes ligation with a bandage above the swollen part of the wound, wound debridement and local block.
① Bandage ligation: after a venomous snake bite, the animal should be kept as quiet as possible, and a soft rope or gauze bandage, tourniquet, or suitable nearby plant stems, straw, wild vines, etc. should immediately be used to ligate about 2-10 cm above the wound. The tightness of the ligation should be such that it can block lymphatic and venous return, but must not hinder arterial blood supply. After ligation, it should be loosened once at regular intervals to avoid tissue necrosis. The ligation can only be released after detoxification and administration of effective snake medicine for 3-4 hours.
② Cleaning the wound: after effectively ligating above the wound, immediately cut the wound along the two fang marks, press the surrounding tissues to force the venom to flow out, and carry out thorough cleaning and detoxification. Commonly use 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, 0.2% potassium permanganate solution or 2% sodium chloride solution to rinse the wound, removing snake venom and debris remaining in the wound. For those bitten by vipers and pit vipers, incision and drainage for detoxification are generally not performed, to prevent continuous bleeding.
③ Local block: around the swelling or above the wound, use 0.25%-0.5% procaine hydrochloride solution plus penicillin or dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, etc. for deep circular block, which has a good effect on inhibiting the spread of snake venom, reducing pain and preventing infection. Local cold compress can also be applied.
(2) Specific detoxification
Antivenom serum is the specific antidote that neutralizes snake venom, and if conditions permit it should be used as early as possible, with intravenous injection within 20-30 minutes being best. Traditional Chinese medicine may also be selected for treatment; traditional Chinese medicine has rich experience and practical effects in rescuing venomous snake bites. Commonly used Chinese patent medicines include Jidesheng Snake Medicine, Shanghai Snake Medicine, Nantong Snake Medicine, Guangzhou Snake Wound Detoxification Tablets, Xinhui Snake Medicine Wine, Qunsheng Snake Medicine, etc. Mix the snake medicine with water into a paste and apply it around the wound, especially 2-3 cm around the outer edge of the swelling, but do not apply medicine inside the wound, or use it according to the instructions of each Chinese patent medicine.
Shanghai Snake Medicine has a good effect on poisoning from bites by pit vipers and bamboo pit vipers, and can also treat poisoning from bites by cobras, silver kraits, vipers and hundred-pace snakes. Nantong Snake Medicine is effective for poisoning from various snake bites. Qunsheng Snake Medicine mainly treats pit viper bites. Guangzhou Snake Wound Detoxification Tablets mainly treat bites by cobras, golden kraits, silver kraits, pit vipers, hundred-pace snakes, bamboo pit vipers, etc.
Use the specific herbal medicine Dujiaolian (Podophyllum root), chop and mash the root, add an appropriate amount of rice vinegar and baijiu to make a paste for application, change it 2 times a day, which can reduce swelling and drive out toxin, and it can heal in 2-4 days. Alternatively, use 100 g each of Angelica dahurica and Baicaoshuang, and 30 g of realgar, grind into fine powder, add human milk or cow milk to make a paste, apply around the wound, and change it 2-3 times a day, with good effect.
(3) Symptomatic treatment
Mainly adopt measures such as fluid supplementation, cardiac support, prevention of shock and acute renal failure. For snake venom poisoning with relatively obvious neurological symptoms, avoid central nervous system inhibitors such as barbiturates and morphine, and striated muscle inhibitors such as curare; for those poisoned by blood circulation toxin-type snake venoms, avoid adrenaline and sodium citrate, etc.
3. Prevention
Vigorously publicize and popularize knowledge on the prevention and treatment of venomous snake bites, master the activity patterns and characteristics of venomous snakes, and promptly clear weeds and loose stones around farms so that snakes have nowhere to hide. Animals should avoid grazing during the activity time of venomous snakes.