Venomous Snakes and Snakebite Treatment in Asia

Y. Sawai

Abstract


Snakebite is a hazard in Asian areas. The mortality rate and morbidity rate by snakebites in these areas depend on the species and the density of venomous snakes in each area. Thus the mortality rate is higher in the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India, where the bites by cobras, kraits and Russell’s viper are frequent. On the other hand, lower rates of bite are recorded in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia, where the bites by pit viper of Agkistrodon and Trimeresurus species are predominant. The bite by the seasnakes of Hydrophiidae is also a problem among fishermen in Malaysia and Indonesia, Environment of human life, where the snakebites occur, is also another important factor. In most of the areas, modernization of the medical treatment is delayed because of shortage of specific antivenom, lack of the experts who are able to inject antivenom intravenously soon after the bite, popularization of herbal remedies, and poor mode of transportation of patients to hospital.


Keywords


venomous snakes; snakebite; treatment; Asia

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-1998-5-2-103-112

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