North American Venomous Reptile Bites

Type :

Research papers

Pages :

2 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/19/2007

Category :

Science & technology

Sub category :

Biology

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Summary :

Introduction
Snake venoms
Allergy to reptile venoms
Bites by exotic snakes in the United States
References

Abstract

north America is unique in that it is home not only to venomous snakes, but also to the world's only known venomous lizards. Fortunately, bites by venomous reptiles in north America are relatively uncommon, although precise statistics are not available. The only systematic attempt to evaluate the incidence of venomous snakebite in the United States was done in the late 1960s by Dr. Henry Parrish. He estimated that there were approximately 7000 bites by venomous snakes, of which approximately 15 ended in death. The incidence of venomous snakebite may have changed significantly since Parrish's study, but given that snakebite is not a reportable "disease," no mechanism exists for obtaining reliable data. The incidence of snakebite in Canada is lower than that in the United States because fewer snakes species are found farther north up the continent. In Mexico, however, snakebite takes on increasing medical importance because this country has more venomous snake species than any other nation in the New World. As many as 150 deaths may be caused by snakebite in Mexico each year.