Bitten by a viper? Here's what you should never do
If you are bitten by a viper, your symptoms will determine whether you need urgent medical attention or just rest and observation. Even so, a medical expert stresses that certain important precautions should always be followed.
The viper is one of three snake species found in Norway and the country's only venomous snake.(Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB)
NTB .NTB.Norwegian News Agency
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A viper basking in the sun is a classic sign of spring. But what should you do – or avoid doing – if you are bitten?
“The bite site should be left alone! Do not squeeze it, cut into it, or try to suck out the venom,” warns Ståle Onsgård Sagabråten, a specialist in general medicine who also heads the professional board of the Norwegian Medical Association.
These people should see a doctor
Norway’s only venomous snake is the Common European viper or adder. Many encounters happen in forest areas where people hike and spend time outdoors. Vipers are not aggressive by nature, but if they are startled or feel trapped, they may strike.
The key question is how much venom is injected through the snake’s fangs, Sagabråten explains:
“Fortunately, one in three viper bites are what we call ‘dry’ bites, meaning they contain no venom or only very small amounts. If there is no reaction at the bite site within the first 30 minutes, a serious reaction is unlikely. And if there are no symptoms at all two hours later, follow-up or treatment is generally unnecessary.”
Even so, some people without reactions should always be checked by a doctor and monitored for the first 24 hours, he notes.
"Children under 12, pregnant women, people over 70, and anyone in poor health are at greater risk of serious reactions and should always go to an emergency clinic or hospital. The same applies to people bitten on the back, abdomen, chest, head, or neck, since these bites are more likely to cause serious complications," says Sagabråten.
Warning signs to look for
For adults and otherwise healthy patients, the reaction around the bite site usually determines whether treatment is needed. Adults with only mild symptoms and no signs of deterioration should be monitored for 6 to 8 hours. Hospitalisation is not necessary.
However, if there is pronounced bluish-red discolouration of the skin, swelling, or symptoms such as a high pulse or low blood pressure causing dizziness, you should get to a hospital quickly, says Sagabråten.
People taking ACE inhibitor blood pressure medication are at higher risk of developing low blood pressure and should also contact a doctor quickly. The same applies to anyone experiencing breathing difficulties or abdominal pain combined with vomiting and diarrhoea, according to Sagabråten.
"Swelling in the face or throat is another serious warning sign of a potentially life-threatening condition. Reduced alertness or unconsciousness is also dangerous. If any of these symptoms occur, you should call the emergency services immediately. Rapid transport to an emergency clinic or hospital is urgent," he says.
In Norway, the number you should be calling in this case is 113.
Avoid a high pulse
If a bite occurs, staying calm and leaving the bite area untouched is essential. The affected body part should also be kept elevated.
"Both the bite site and the person who was bitten should remain as still as possible. A higher pulse causes the venom to spread through the body faster and increases the risk of a more serious reaction," says Sagabråten.
"Calm movement is therefore important. If movement is necessary to reach medical help, the patient should be carried. This is especially important for children, since they are more sensitive to viper venom," he adds.
Sagabråten recommends everyone who visits Norway to download the '113' app. In addition to giving quick access to professional advice and assistance with evacuation, the app can provide emergency responders with your exact coordinates if needed.
Annonse
Most often, it's not necessary, assures Sagabråten.
"I have been a GP for more than 25 years and worked many emergency shifts in areas with extensive outdoor recreation and tourism, but I can still count on one hand the number of patients I have admitted for observation after a viper bite. Those admissions were mainly because the patients belonged to high-risk groups, not because the reactions themselves were severe," he says.
He adds that fortunately, decades pass between each death caused by viper bites in Norway.
Who to call
If you are bitten by a viper or are unsure whether you have been, contact the 24-hour Norwegian Poison Information helpline through Helsenorge at 22 59 13 00 for advice and guidance.
If you have severe symptoms, always call 113 immediately.
