Snake, Snakebite and its Management–The Indian Scenario

Abstract

Snakes are ubiquitous in India. There are many varieties of snakes with hundreds of species spanning across the country. It follows that snakebite is also a major problem in India. Snakebite deaths in India contribute to almost half of all global snakebite deaths annually. Those who survive are often left maimed and disfigured, accompanied by lifelong disabilities. Snakebites are managed at the field-level by providing psychological boost to the patient and by administering first aid. At the hospital-level, envenomed patients are treated by antivenom therapy, which is the only definitive treatment for venomous snakebites. These aspects have been discussed in detail in this review.