Snakebite Management: Antivenoms, Key Facts and Challenges

Learn about Snakebite Management—types of Antivenom, key facts, challenges in availability, and strategies to reduce snakebite mortality.

Table of Contents

Context: Despite the high availability of Anti-Snake Venom (ASV), Kerala faces rising challenges in preventing snakebite fatalities due to environmental shifts and systemic diagnostic flaws.

Key Facts About Snakebite

Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD): The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies snakebite envenoming as a High-Priority NTD, highlighting the need for global attention to a condition that primarily affects impoverished rural communities.
Anti-Snake Venom (ASV): This life-saving treatment is produced by immunizing horses with snake venom. In India, ASV is polyvalent, meaning a single vial is designed to be effective against all members of the “Big Four” venomous snakes.
SARPA Programme: A Kerala state initiative to professionalize snake rescue and reduce accidental bites during handling.
- SARPA App: A specialized digital tool launched by the Kerala government to professionalize snake rescue.

Note

India records an estimated 58,000 snakebite deaths annually, making it the “snakebite capital” of the world.

What are Antivenoms?

Antivenoms (or antivenins) are life-saving medicines used to treat snakebites. They work by neutralizing venom toxins in the body.
Production: Animals like horses are injected with small amounts of venom to stimulate antibody production. These antibodies are then harvested and purified to create antivenoms.
Function: Antivenoms bind specifically to venom toxins, neutralizing their effects and allowing the body to clear them.

Snake Venom Composition

It is a lethal cocktail of toxic proteins evolved to immobilize prey and defend against threats.
Types of Toxins:
- Haemotoxins: Destroy blood cells and disrupt clotting.
- Neurotoxins: Block nerve signals, causing paralysis.
- Cytotoxins: Dissolve tissue at the bite site.

Challenges in accessing Anti-venoms

Access Challenges: Remote areas lack healthcare facilities with antivenoms.
Infrastructure Issues: Cold storage is critical for antivenom preservation, its non-availability in rural areas is an issue.
High manufacturing costs

Future of Antivenoms

Researchers use recombinant DNA technology to produce lab-engineered, synthetic antivenoms free from animal-derived proteins and offer greater safety and efficacy.

Data on Snakebites in India

India is home to 310 snake species, of which:
- 66 are venomous.
- 42 are mildly venomous.
- 23 species are medically significant due to their fatal venom.
‘Big Four’ snakes cause 90% of bites: Indian cobra, Common krait, Russell’s viper & Saw-scaled viper.