Recent advances in management of snakebites

In this review an attempt has been made to amalgamate current trends and recent advances in the management of snakebites with a view of updating knowledge of medical and paramedical personnel involved in handling emergencies. Despite the advancement in the field of medicine, snakebites still cause high morbidity and mortality, Illiteracy, misconceptions, false beliefs in local treatment, unawareness about proper first aid measures and lack of availabiiity of antivenins results in higher mortality rate in developing versus developed countries. Therefore, it is necessary that general people, physicians and other paramedical persons are aware of correct first aid measures to be taken when they encounter a case of snakebite. A careful and an early supportive treatment with adequate antivenin therapy is enough to save lives of millions who die of envenomation. Use of polyvalent antivenin is recommended if species of snake involved is unknown. Since antivenin therapy is likely to produce serious adverse effects it should be used only when signs of severe or progressive systemic toxicity not controlled by supportive measures are encountered.