Recent Advances in Diagnostic Tests and Treatment of Snake Bite may Help to Curb Mortality

Abstract

Snake bites have remained India's most neglected tropical predicament despite of high mortality rates. The reasons behind such high mortality are usually unaware and uneducated rural population, lack of availability of early and proper treatment, doctors in dilemma, unavailability of antivenins in highly prone areas, high reaction rates to antivenin treatment and many more. This article may help the readers to update their knowledge with pros and cons of newer researches that have been carried out in various countries of the world with a motive to reduce snake bite related morbidity and mortality to minimum. Here, an effort has also been made to draw some attention of health authorities of India on recent advances that can help to curb mortality due to snake bites if bed side tests are made cost effective.