Being bitten by a snake can be a scary experience, and you will not want to get any bite. But in order to know what to do in emergency and dangerous situation, at least you should know the basic things about snake bites : the types of snake bites and the symptoms of each.  This article will discuss about how you can distinguish between two types of snake bites based on the symptoms and also a bit additional information.

Types of snake bite

You may wonder, we are going to talk about snake bites symptoms, so why do we have to know the types too? Because the symptoms of snake bites are divided based on these two types of snake bites :

Dry bite

This type refers to a bite from a venomous or non venomous snake, and there is no venom injected in the bite.

The symptoms of a dry bite are :

• Anxiety.
• A mild pain comes from the site of a bitten area caused by the snake’s fang.

Usually, when the experts identify a bite as a dry one, and there is no venom found (but they will give any anticipation for it), the treatment they will give are focused on how to prevent any further infection.

But it is important to note that you should be aware when you start  to “think” that you get a dry bite. Even if you do not feel any symptom other than anxiety and a mild pain, do not assume that the bite you got is absolutely a dry bite and  will not bring you to any dangerous situation. For example is a bite from a black mamba will take a long time until you can decide whether it is dangerous or not. Also, in most cases, some species  have sophisticated mechanisms to control the dosage of venom they inject, at first you may do not notice since the venom takes a long time to kill, but it  will not take a long time to damage the tissue to the level of irreparable. That’s why the best thing you have to do after being bitten, regardless you “think” it is a dry bite,  is going to hospital then looking for medical help immediately.

Venomous bite

This type is really the dangerous one, it refers to when a venomous snake bites and injects his venom (poison) to the wound its has made.

The symptoms of venomous bites are vary, but first, those can be divided into four major symptoms on the body :

Local effects

• The site of bitten area and skin around it may pain  and tender.
• Swelling.
• The bitten area may  blister.
• The damage of tissue around the site (in most cases, the venom may kill the tissue around the bitten area).

Blood loss

• Bleeding on the site of bitten area.
• Bleeding on old wound.
• When the venom has worked, blood may come from nose, mouth and other internal organs.

Affected the nervous system

• Some species’ venoms may start in vision problem, difficulty in speaking and breathing (it is similar to asthma but do not take it wrong,).
• The other species’ venoms may directly stop the breathing muscles.

Muscle damage

• The venom damage the muscles, causing death muscles.

Beside those major effects, the venomous bites also may cause :

• Redness and bruising at the bitten site
• Swelling lips, tongue and gum
• Unusual heartbeat
• Shock or collapse
• Kidney failure
• Vision blurred
• Unconsciousness/ fainting
• Diarrhea
• Mental confusion
• Dizziness
• Vomitting
• Itchiness

It has been mentioned in the beginning of this discussion that all of the symptoms may help you to know what to do if you or people around you are in emergency and dangerous situation. Although  there is a type of snake bite which symptoms do not really lead you to a dangerous situation, it is important to bear in mind that you should treat every snake bite as they are all venomous and get a medical help. By thinking and treating  that way, it will give you more awareness and prevent you from any bad possibility caused by lack of anticipation treatment.