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Northern Copperhead Bite
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by Jonsey on December 1, 2008
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Well written article, and one to make people realize the seriousness of copperhead envenomations.
My neighbor was bitten last summer while on a fishing trip, and unfortunately developed complications from the bite resulting in a fasciotomy , a surgical procedure for compartment syndrome, a fancy term describing increasing pressure between muscle layers which does not allow for blood circulation to the affected muscle which can result in tissue death.
Fortunately surgery was successful and he has complete range of motion to his finger.
I am a beginner to the study of venomous reptiles and would appreciate any medical advice on treatment of envenomation, as I am an RN and would be very interested in putting together a presentation for nursing colleagues.
Thanks,
Dave
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RE: Northern Copperhead Bite
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by JHarrison on January 24, 2009
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Surgery should rarely be done on snakebite and in the hundreds of copperhead bites I have seen or reviewed none needed surgery. It sounds like this victim was mistreated. Get a second opinion from AZ Poison Control or some other snakebite experts before allowing a doctor to cut on you.
Jim Harrison
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RE: Northern Copperhead Bite
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by snakebait67 on February 21, 2009
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what will happen if you dont go to the hospital is the following: massive tissue loss in the area of the bite and around it, second alot of nerve damage,and third, a very possible and very nasty infection... i too keep copper heads and to tell you the truth im 13, i know how to handle these suckers well and have gotten bitten only once... when i was 7 i almost died because i was small and the proportion of size to venom was very unbalanced. but ever since then i have loved these animals more than anything i curntly have 23 snakes and 9 of those are venomous. my collection inculdes 6 copperheads, a coral snake, a dimond back, and a baby Gaboon that i got at a snake show.
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RE: Northern Copperhead Bite
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by Bogga on March 24, 2009
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Snakebait67
You mentioned you had a gaboon, where do you live? do you have AV on hand for a bite of this specie?
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Northern Copperhead Bite
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by kasey123 on May 11, 2009
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My fiance was bitten by a copperhead 2 days ago on the forearm, and his entire arm has been swollen since. I was just wondering how long we can expect the swelling to last??? Just send me an email to kmdecker10@yahoo.com with the answer... ANYONE!!! Thanks
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Northern Copperhead Bite
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by WaffleGuy on June 17, 2009
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One of the biggest risks from envenomation is definitely compartmentalization. Swelling can become severe enough to damage nerves and other tissues, sometimes permanently. There are a LOT of variables and one should get professional medical attention. The Tuscon poison information center, which treats the most rattlesnake bites in the US annually, is a good place to call for expert help. Also their number is easy to remember 1-800-222-1222, they are happy to provide and expert reference for your Doc. Even better, call them while your enroute and tell them what facility you are going to, and they will call ahead and advise the staff (a big tip of the hat to ViperKeeper for publicizing that). There are other good resources posted on this and other sites as well.
A friend of mine here in NC was bitten several weeks ago on the finger while working in his yard by a copperhead. While he had little trouble with the site of the bite and minimal pain; he had huge problems with swelling and compartmentalization for about three days. Fortunately he responded to treatment and is fine now.
If you want to read an account of a nasty bite (from unknown snake) requiring a fasciotomy go here: http://www.ellysnakebitefund.org/The%20Incident.htm
Anyway, I'm glad you are recovering and pain free, I wish you all the best along with a fast and complete recovery.
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RE: Northern Copperhead Bite
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by JHarrison on August 1, 2009
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Most if not all the people at Venom Week would disagree with doing surgery on snakebite as it is rarely needed.
Compartment pressures should be measured before any thought of surgery. Out of hundreds of pit viper bites I have seen none had pressures that would need surgery.
Always get a second opinion before having someone do surgery on a snakebite. Poison Control in Arizona is a good place to start.
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RE: Northern Copperhead Bite
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by lucky81 on September 12, 2009
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Hello I found your story very interesting and thought you would like to here my unlucky one. On tuesday evening around 9pm September 8th 2009 I was running to my house from my in-laws. I have a shnouzer and he was out in my front yard playing. I thought I would be clever and sprint at him to get a rise out of him. I was in a dead run midway across my yard when it felt like someone hit me in the right foot with a hammer and I was wearing flipflops. I did not stop when I felt the initial pain but continued to my porch where I set down to see what I had done to my foot. I looked and looked to see if I was bleeding and to my suprise there was nothing. I continued into my house where my wife was wtching Television and again I set down and looked my foot over. At this time I was in severe pain and told her that I had did something very bad to my foot. I looked again and seen finanly to perfect blood drops in two holes on the inside of my right foot and new than what had happened. I told my wife "I have been bitten by a snake". She seen the bite and freaked I immediatly took off my belt and wrapped it around my leg just above the knee. I told her to call her dad and tell him to bring a flash light I needed to see what kind of snake it was. I went back outside stepped of my porch to where my dog was and my wife screamed "there it is" I looked down and the copperhead was coming at me and my dog striking I had really pissed this thing off. My first thought was to get the dog off the leash and if need be grab the snake to keep it from bitting my dog. Luckely I got the dog up onto the porch at the same time my father in-law trapped the snake. I usually do not kill snakes escpecially the blacks or timber rats but I have a little girl who plays in the yard and this was a very aggressive snake and I was pissed so it had to go (with me to the hospital). I am amazed at the power off this snakes bite I cannot walk and my foot and leg are very swollen and they are changing very neat colors. I am on very strong antibiotics and pain medication and still wondering what this bite holds for me in the next week or so. I had just cought a 6 foot timber rat a week ago it had 8 rattles and a button and it is by far one of the most beautiful snakes I have seen. I could not imagen what its bite would feel like when this copperhead has felt this way. I am a avid hunter and fisherman and have never almost been bitten and wouldnt you know it I get bit in my own front yard, talk about your luck.
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by Voided37 on September 12, 2009
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Southern coppers are usually where you least expect them AND where you do, in my experience.
They investigate structures it seems especially at sundown and nightfall.
Sorry about your misfortune, [and the snakes], and best wishs for a speedy recovery.
Keep us posted on your outcome please.
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Northern Copperhead Bite
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by liliana on September 14, 2009
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about the last paragraph, since i was a teenager deeply
inside i've always wanted to be bited by a bothrops. Now taht i have 28 i see clear that if it had happened, i would be dead for sure. i'm too small to survive a bothrops bite. As you said some peole secretly want to be bited to feel how it is. You're lucky, it was only a copperhead bite... you know it...
lilisean@hotmail.com
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