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Venomous Snakes and Snakebites in India

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Clinical Toxinology in Asia Pacific and Africa

Part of the book series: Toxinology ((TOXI,volume 2))

Abstract

An overview of the venomous snake fauna of India is presented. Regions having high diversity of venomous snakes that are consequent on the presence of distinct ecoregions are projected. Annual statistics from India as to the number of snakebites and deaths from snakebite are reviewed. The lack of a consensual estimate of snakebite statistics from India is highlighted. Differences in methods of data collection, time span used for the study, and venomous snake diversity among the Indian states are presumed to be the causal factors. The concept of “Big Four venomous snakes” in the current context is reviewed in light of the venomous snake diversity of the country. Among the “other venomous snakes,” identification of lethal (e.g., sea snakes, king cobra, banded krait) and nonlethal though venomous ones (most species of Indian pit vipers) is highlighted for snakebite management. Lastly, for those that do not necessitate the use of antivenom for treatment, acquisition of knowledge on effects and appropriate medical intervention is highlighted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chennai Snake Park, Chennai, TN, 600 022, India

    B. Vijayaraghavan & S. R. Ganesh

Authors
  1. B. Vijayaraghavan
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  2. S. R. Ganesh
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Correspondence to B. Vijayaraghavan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Venom and Toxin Research Programme Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    P. Gopalakrishnakone

  2. Professor of Medicine (Rtd), Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Abul Faiz

  3. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Ravindra Fernando

  4. Department of Clinical Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Christeine Ariaranee Gnanathasan

  5. Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit Department of Medicine, Bayero University Kano Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

    Abdulrazaq Garba Habib

  6. Department of Medicine, School of Medicine National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chen-Chang Yang

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Vijayaraghavan, B., Ganesh, S.R. (2015). Venomous Snakes and Snakebites in India. In: Gopalakrishnakone, P., Faiz, A., Fernando, R., Gnanathasan, C., Habib, A., Yang, CC. (eds) Clinical Toxinology in Asia Pacific and Africa. Toxinology, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6386-9_19

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