TyMilsom

SUMMARY OF BITE BY DENDROASPIS ANGUSTICEPS


This report has been copied and pasted about various forums, so I thought I would do the same as it is important for two reasons: 1) it shows the symptoms of a mamba bite and 2) It shows the keeper was lucky to be alive, as he did not recieve medical assistance.



Although the standard protocol/safety procedure was not followed I feel it may be of interest for others to read.

Again, in the event of any highley venomous bite all standard medical emergency protocols should be followed THIS POST IS FOR ANYBODY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE SYMPTOMS AND NOT TO JUDGE THE BITE VICTOM.

SUMMARY OF BITE BY DENDROASPIS ANGUSTICEPS
At approximately 17:00 03/02/2009, a bite was sustained on the left index finger from a 1.4m male Dendroaspis angusticeps. The snake was being returned to its vivarium from a holding box, when it doubled back and bit the keeper once on the left index finger between the first and second knuckles
Suction was immediately applied using a Venimex extractor and pressure applied to the bite site. A compression bandage was then applied from the elbow down to the bite. The bite itself was a “bite and release” and was virtually painless, but a burning sensation was immediately evident at the bite site. The bite bled profusely with the blood being of a watery consistency.
Approximately 30 minutes post bite there was a noticeable tingling and numbness of the lips and the tongue felt “thick”
A log of the bite was not kept, so timings are only approximate.
+45m: Increasing numbness of lips, a feeling in neck and throat akin to tonsillitis and difficulty swallowing, neck becoming stiff and ache in jaw. Slight abdominal pain and incidence of diarrhoea
+1h: muscular pain on opening jaw, turning head and extending tongue. “Pins and needles” feeling extending across lower face. Noticeable swelling of hand. Pulse approximately 180bpm. Took antihistamines and anti-inflammatories
+3h: Pins and needles in hands and legs, intermittent cold flushes across body as if being splashed with cold water. Pain on moving eyes, jaw stiff and painful to open mouth. Increasing stiffness of neck muscles and pain upon moving head. Almost impossible to swallow food.
+4h: Pins and needles increasing to a feeling of “buzzing” over entire body. All joints aching and skin hot, dry and painful to the touch.
+6h: slight fasciculation in right calf, very brief and only occurred once. Slight tightness in chest with a feeling of not being able to draw a full breath. Pain in chest and abdomen when coughing.
+6h 15m: noticeable tremors over entire body and frequent yawning. Feeling of wanting to go to sleep. Joints very stiff and painful, difficulty standing and walking due to stiffness and pain, general feeling of weakness. Feeling of being “not quite with it”
+7h went to bed, sleep interrupted a few times
08:30 04/02/09: woke up, no aches, no joint pain, no pins and needles. Hand very swollen and hot to the touch, extremely painful to touch. Frequent instantaneous hot flushes across the face. Continued with Antihistamines and anti-inflammatories.
16:00 swelling advancing up forearm. Reapplied compression bandage from elbow downwards.
08:00 05/02/09: Swelling ceased advancing at mid forearm, swelling appears to be diminishing in hand and increased mobility of fingers. Left hand still hot to touch. Have a headache that won’t go away.
10:30 06/02/09: Swelling decreasing, virtually full mobility of fingers, hand feels as if it has been crushed, all areas tender and painful to slightest pressure, tenderness extends to mid-forearm, all joints in the hand painful to move, wrist joint painful and stiff
12:00 08/02/09: Swelling has gone completely although left hand is extremely sore to touch and all joints are stiff and painful. The pain seems to go right into the bones. It feels as if the hand has been hit all over with a large hammer. Wrist joint is painful and stiff to move, pain upon contact extends to mid forearm. Redness around fang marks. No residual systemic effects.
23:00 09/02/09: Index finger starting to swell again, noticeable redness and heat around fang marks. Decreased mobility in index finger. Took anti-histamines. Entire hand, wrist and forearm are still tender, pain upon slight pressure to skin and pain in joints upon moving.
22:00 11/02/09: Dusky reddish raised area surrounding fang marks. Entire hand and wrist still painful to the touch and feeling as if they have been crushed.


SUMMARY OF BITE BY DENDROASPIS ANGUSTICEPS