From the Guidelines
For non-venomous snake bites, the primary treatment approach should focus on wound care and infection prevention, without the use of interventions like ice, suction, electric shock, tourniquets, or pressure immobilization bandaging, as these methods are either ineffective or potentially harmful 1.
Key Recommendations
- Clean the bite site thoroughly with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic solution like povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine.
- Cover the wound with a clean, sterile bandage.
- Monitor for signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or pus.
- Most non-venomous bites don't require antibiotics prophylactically, but if infection develops, oral antibiotics like amoxicillin-clavulanate (875/125 mg twice daily for 7-10 days) or, in case of penicillin allergy, clindamycin (300-450 mg four times daily) may be prescribed 1.
- Tetanus prophylaxis should be administered if the patient's immunization status is not up to date.
- Pain can be managed with acetaminophen (500-1000 mg every 6 hours) or ibuprofen (400-600 mg every 6-8 hours).
- Elevate the affected limb to reduce swelling.
- It is reasonable to rest and immobilize the bitten extremity and minimize exertion by the person who was bitten if it does not delay access to emergency medical care 1.
- Remove rings and other constricting objects from the bitten extremity, as swelling may cause these to constrict and damage the affected area 1.
Rationale
The approach to treating non-venomous snake bites prioritizes wound care and prevention of infection, given that the bites themselves are not toxic. The use of certain first aid measures such as ice, suction devices, electric shock, tourniquets, or pressure immobilization bandages is not recommended due to lack of efficacy or potential for harm, as highlighted in the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. Instead, focusing on cleaning the wound, monitoring for infection, and providing supportive care such as pain management and tetanus prophylaxis as needed is the preferred approach. Given the potential difficulty in identifying snakes and the possibility that a bite thought to be non-venomous could be venomous, medical attention is advised to ensure proper care and to assess for any potential complications.
From the Research
Treatment of Non-Venomous Snake Bite
- The provided studies primarily focus on venomous snake bites, and there is limited information on the treatment of non-venomous snake bites.
- However, it can be inferred that the treatment of non-venomous snake bites may involve similar principles, such as wound care and management of potential infections.
- A study on rattlesnake bites found that prophylactic antibiotics were not necessary, as the incidence of post-bite infections was low 2.
- Another study on snakebite patients in a tertiary care hospital found that antibiotics were commonly prescribed, but the choice of antibiotics was based on the clinician's discretion 3.
- A study on copperhead snakebite patients found that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was safe and did not increase the risk of bleeding 4.
- A pharmacological approach to first aid treatment for snakebite involved the use of a nitric oxide donor to impede the intrinsic lymphatic pump and prolong lymph transit time, which may give victims more time to obtain medical care and antivenom treatment 5.
- A study on antibiotic use and infection in snakebite victims found that antibiotics should be reserved for patients with necrosis and should cover Gram-negative aerobic bacilli and Gram-positive aerobic cocci 6.