Non-venomous snakebites do cause serious health problems

Though only four out of the 300-odd snake species found in the country are venomous, doctors, environmentalists and snake catchers caution against ignoring any snakebite. Even non-venomous snakebites could cause serious health problems like gangrene and cellulitis, among others.

In India, cobra, vipers and kraits are poisonous snakes. However, there are multiple species of snakes commonly found in urban areas like rattle snakes, water snakes, tree snakes, sand boas etc., which do sometimes bite humans but are non-venomous.

However, doctors say these bites also require first aid and even a dose of medication if infection symptoms occur. “Since snakes mainly consume rats and frogs, their mouth and teeth often carry a lot of bacteria. The bacteria can often cause serious infections leading to cellulitis, which if ignored can spread, and even lead to gangrene,” Coimbatore Medical College Hospital dean Dr B Ashokan said.

“It is always better to get it checked by a doctor, because people in their fear may not notice the snake’s exact appearance and know whether its poisonous or not. Ruling out a venomous bite through blood tests at the GH is always safer,” snake catcher Santhosh Kumar said.

Victims of a snake bite are advised to first wash the bitten area well with running water, and if its surely a non-venomous snake, wipe the area with a disinfectant or anti-bacterial liquid like Dettol or Savlon. “We would still recommend showing it to a doctor, who can assess the bitten area for any infection symptoms and recommend a dose of antibiotics if required,” forest conservationist M Siva said.