Venomous Snake Bite
A venomous snakebite occurs when venom enters the body through a wound caused by a venomous snake, resulting in acute systemic poisoning. The condition can develop suddenly and progress rapidly. Without prompt treatment, it can be life-threatening. Approximately 219 snake species are known in China, of which more than 50 are venomous. Ten species pose a particularly significant threat to humans. Snakes with neurotoxic venom include the many-banded krait, banded krait, and sea snakes; those with hemotoxic venom include vipers, Chinese moccasins, bamboo pit vipers, and mountain pit vipers; and those with mixed venom include cobras, king cobras, and pit vipers.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
The bite wound is not red, swollen, or painful; there may only be numbness of the skin. Systemic symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, and shortness of breath. Severe cases may involve difficulty breathing, limb paralysis, difficulty opening the mouth, drooping eyelids, confusion, or even coma. The tongue coating is thin and white, the tongue body is red, and the pulse is wiry and rapid.
In Plain Language:
- The wound surface is not red, swollen, or painful, but the skin feels numb.
- Dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, and rapid breathing may occur.
- In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, numbness or weakness in the limbs, difficulty opening the mouth, drooping eyelids, confusion, or even coma.
- The tongue coating is thin and white.
- The tongue appears somewhat red.
- The pulse feels tense and is somewhat rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Invigorate blood and unblock the channels and collaterals; dispel wind and resolve toxin.
In Plain Language:
- May help promote blood flow and unblock the channels and collaterals, easing discomfort such as bruising, numbness, or radiating pain.
- In TCM terms, may help dispel wind and resolve pathogenic factors in the body, easing manifestations such as fever, headache, red and swollen sores, or a sore throat.
|Related Medications
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Marked local swelling and pain, often with blisters, blood blisters, or bruising. Severe cases may develop local tissue necrosis. Systemic symptoms may include chills, fever, restlessness, dry throat and thirst, chest tightness and palpitations, distending pain in the flanks and ribs, constipation, scant dark urine, or blood in the urine. The tongue body is red, the coating is yellow, and the pulse is slippery and rapid.
In Plain Language:
- There is severe localized swelling and pain.
- Blisters, blood blisters, or bruising are common.
- In severe cases, local tissue necrosis may occur.
- Systemic symptoms may include chills, fever, restlessness, a dry throat and thirst, chest tightness and palpitations, distending pain along the ribs, constipation, and scant, dark-yellow urine or blood in the urine.
- The tongue appears somewhat red.
- The tongue coating is yellow.
- The pulse feels somewhat slippery and rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Drain fire and resolve toxin; cool and invigorate the blood.
In Plain Language:
- In TCM terms, may help clear excessive internal heat and resolve pathogenic factors, easing manifestations such as fever, thirst, irritability, a sore throat, or red and swollen sores.
- May help cool the blood and promote blood flow, easing manifestations such as facial flushing and hot sensations, pinpoint skin bleeding, painful bruising, or menstrual irregularities.
|Related Medications
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Marked local redness and swelling, generally with severe pain at the wound. Blisters, blood blisters, bruising, pinpoint bruises, or ulceration at the wound may occur. Systemic symptoms include dizziness, headache, blurred vision, chills and fever, chest tightness and palpitations, nausea and vomiting, constipation, and scant dark urine. Severe cases may involve restlessness, convulsions, or even clouded consciousness. The tongue coating may be white and yellow; later it becomes yellow. The tongue body is red, and the pulse is wiry and rapid.
In Plain Language:
- There is marked local redness and swelling, with severe pain at the wound.
- Blisters, blood blisters, bruising, or pinpoint bruises may appear, and the wound may ulcerate.
- Dizziness, headache, and blurred vision may occur.
- Chills and fever may occur, with shivering and feeling cold.
- Chest tightness and palpitations may occur.
- Nausea and vomiting may occur.
- Constipation and scant, dark-yellow urine may occur.
- Severe cases may involve restlessness and convulsions, or even confusion and reduced alertness.
- The tongue coating may initially be white and yellow, and often becomes yellow later.
- The tongue appears somewhat red.
- The pulse feels tense and is somewhat rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat and resolve toxin; cool the blood and extinguish wind.
In Plain Language:
- In TCM terms, may help clear internal heat and resolve pathogenic factors, easing manifestations such as fever, sore throat, or red and swollen sores.
- May help cool the blood and calm internal wind, easing manifestations such as dizziness, convulsions, or pinpoint skin bleeding.
|Related Medications
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
After a venomous snakebite, inadequate or inappropriate treatment may be followed by high fever, agitation, convulsions, or delirium with confusion. The local wound may suddenly change from red and swollen to dark purple or purplish-black, while the swelling decreases slightly. The tongue body is deep red, and the pulse is fine and rapid.
In Plain Language:
- After a venomous snakebite, improper treatment may be followed by a very high fever, restlessness, convulsions, or confusion with incoherent speech.
- A wound that was initially red and swollen may suddenly turn dark purple or black, while the swelling decreases slightly.
- The tongue appears deep red or crimson.
- The pulse is fine and somewhat rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat from the nutritive level, cool the blood, and resolve toxin.
In Plain Language:
- In TCM terms, may help clear heat from the nutritive level and cool the blood, easing manifestations such as high fever, restlessness, or pinpoint skin bleeding.
- May help resolve pathogenic factors in the body, easing manifestations such as a sore throat, red and swollen sores, or skin rashes.
|Related Medications
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and package insert, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Li Yueqing, He Qinghu. TCM Surgery [M]. 9th ed. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2013: 328–329.
- Huang Nian, Wu Guocheng, Yang Yanlong, et al. Advances in the study of Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of venomous snakebites [J]. Journal of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010, 12(12): 54.
- Lan Hai, Chen Yuancong. Venomous Snakes of China and Treatment of Snakebite [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2008: 183–219.