Saturday, June 16, 2012

Copperhead bites – do they need antivenom?

thank you for the clarification. Australian copperheads are entirely different from Agkistrodon species. According to Sutherland & Tiballs’ text Australian Animal Toxins:
Although larger snakes of the genus Austrelaps are highly venomous, they are rarely aroused sufficiently to bite a trespassing human. . . . Bites must be considered potentially lethal because of neurotoxicity and anticoagulation . . . Cases respond well to antivenom therapy. Poisoning by genus Austrelaps is copartively rare, but definite fatalities have occurred.

S & T go on to describe a case of near fatal paralysis within five hours after a bite.

June 10th, 2012

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