Harrison's PodClass: Internal Medicine Cases and Board Prep Ep 163: A 39-Year-Old with a Snakebite
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Sep 11, 2025 Explore the fascinating world of venomous snakes and the clinical challenges of snake bites. Discover the symptoms of neurotoxic venom and the crucial steps involved in pre-hospital care. The hosts discuss a real case of a 39-year-old bitten while traveling in India, emphasizing the urgency of antivenom treatment and debunking outdated first-aid methods. Engage with a quiz on snake identification and learn about the global impact of snake bites as a neglected tropical disease. This episode blends medical insight with practical knowledge!
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Photo Captured At Bite Scene
- A traveler in southern India photographed a three-foot black snake with thin white cross bars after a calf bite.
- The image helped avoid catching the snake and aided initial identification.
Burden Of Snake Envenomation
- Snake envenomation causes substantial global mortality with many bites unreported in low-resource areas.
- Millions of bites occur yearly and many are dry or go untreated due to limited access to antivenom.
Know The 'Big Four' In India
- In India, four major venomous snakes ('big four') dominate clinical concern and identification matters for management.
- The described snake matched a krait by shape, color, and absence of a hood, distinguishing it from cobras and vipers.
