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Large snake size suggests increased snakebite severity in patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern california.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Janes, DN; Bush, SP; Kolluru, GR
Published in: Wilderness Environ Med
June 2010

OBJECTIVE: To correlate rattlesnake size and other characteristics of envenomation with the severity of envenomation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 145 charts of patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern California between 1995 and 2004, measuring Snakebite Severity Scores (SSS) and characteristics of envenomation that might be correlated with snakebite severity, including rattlesnake size, rattlesnake species, patient size, and anatomic location of the bite. Outcomes measured included SSS, complications of envenomation, number of vials of antivenom used, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Of the patients bitten by rattlesnakes, 81% were men, and 79% of bites were on the upper extremities. Fifty-five percent of bites were provoked by the patient, and 44% were unprovoked. Neither location of snakebite nor provocation of snakebite affected the SSS. Only 1 patient had a snakebite without envenomation, and only 1 patient died from envenomation. Rattlesnake size was positively correlated with SSS, and SSS was positively correlated with the number of vials of antivenom used and with the length of hospital stay. Rattlesnake species and patient mass did not affect SSS. CONCLUSIONS: Larger rattlesnakes cause more severe envenomations, which contradicts popular belief.

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Published In

Wilderness Environ Med

DOI

EISSN

1545-1534

Publication Date

June 2010

Volume

21

Issue

2

Start / End Page

120 / 126

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Snake Bites
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Crotalus
 

Citation

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Janes, D. N., Bush, S. P., & Kolluru, G. R. (2010). Large snake size suggests increased snakebite severity in patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern california. Wilderness Environ Med, 21(2), 120–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2010.01.010
Janes, Donald N., Sean P. Bush, and Gita R. Kolluru. “Large snake size suggests increased snakebite severity in patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern california.Wilderness Environ Med 21, no. 2 (June 2010): 120–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2010.01.010.
Janes DN, Bush SP, Kolluru GR. Large snake size suggests increased snakebite severity in patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern california. Wilderness Environ Med. 2010 Jun;21(2):120–6.
Janes, Donald N., et al. “Large snake size suggests increased snakebite severity in patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern california.Wilderness Environ Med, vol. 21, no. 2, June 2010, pp. 120–26. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.wem.2010.01.010.
Janes DN, Bush SP, Kolluru GR. Large snake size suggests increased snakebite severity in patients bitten by rattlesnakes in Southern california. Wilderness Environ Med. 2010 Jun;21(2):120–126.
Journal cover image

Published In

Wilderness Environ Med

DOI

EISSN

1545-1534

Publication Date

June 2010

Volume

21

Issue

2

Start / End Page

120 / 126

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Snake Bites
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Crotalus