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snakebite

 
Dictionary: snake·bite   (snāk'bīt') pronunciation
n.
  1. The bite of a snake.
  2. Poisoning resulting from the bite of a venomous snake.

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Wound from the bite of a snake, especially a venomous one. Nonvenomous snakes leave skin tears that may be treated like scratches. A person bitten by a venomous snake needs medical care as soon as possible. Antivenin must be specific to the type of venom, so the snake should be identified or accurately described. Different kinds of venom break down red blood cells or attack the nervous system, causing paralysis. Local tissue destruction may lead to gangrene. First aid for snakebite seeks to keep the venom from spreading to the rest of the body. The bitten limb should be kept still below heart level with a broad, firm (not tight) bandage around it above the bite. Exertion and excitement should be avoided. Cutting, suction, tourniquets, and applying ice are not advised.

For more information on snakebite, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: snakebite
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snakebite, wound inflicted by the teeth of a snake. The bite of a nonvenomous snake is rarely serious. Venomous snakes have fangs, hollow teeth through which poison is injected into a victim. All types of snake venom contain a toxin that affects the nerves and tends to paralyze the victim. In addition, the venom of the coral snake, the cobra, and the South American rattlesnake contains constituents that damage blood cells and dissolve the linings of the blood vessels and the lymphatic vessels, causing severe or fatal internal hemorrhage and collapse. First aid for venomous snakebites consists of retarding the spread of the poison through the circulatory system by applying a constricting band or an ice pack, or by spraying ethyl chloride on the wound. It is essential that the patient avoid exertion and the taking of stimulants, as both increase the pulse rate. The constricting band should be applied above the swelling caused by the wound; it should be tight, but not tight enough to stop the pulsing of the blood. If only a few minutes have passed since the infliction of the bite, it is possible to remove much of the poison by suction (see first aid). Antivenins, which counteract the toxins, are available for most types of snake venom. The two main groups of poisonous snakes in the United States are the coral snakes, which rarely attack humans unless provoked, and the pit vipers (copperhead, cottonmouth moccasin, the various rattlers), which require no provocation.


Veterinary Dictionary: snakebite
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Injury caused by the mouthparts of a snake. (1) Cobra-type snakes inject a neurotoxin in their venom causing pupillary dilatation, excitement, convulsions and death due to asphyxia. (2) Adder-type snake venom contains also an agent that causes local swelling and necrosis. If the animal survives the neurotoxin, the part sloughs. (3) Other fractions in some venoms include hemolytic, cardiotoxic, coagulant and anticoagulant fractions. See also demansia textilis, tiger snake.

Wikipedia: Snakebite (disambiguation)
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Snakebite or snake bite may refer to:


Translations: Snakebite
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - slangebid

Nederlands (Dutch)
slangenbeet

Français (French)
n. - morsure de serpent

Deutsch (German)
n. - Schlangenbiß

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - δάγκωμα φιδιού

Italiano (Italian)
morso di serpente, colpo improvviso

Português (Portuguese)
n. - mordedura de cobra

Русский (Russian)
змеиный укус

Español (Spanish)
n. - mordedura de serpiente

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - ormbett

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
蛇咬伤

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 蛇咬傷

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 뱀에게 물린 상처

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ヘビ咬傷, その痛み

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) لدغه ألحيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮הכשת נחש‬


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Snakebite (disambiguation)" Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more