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Adder bites or bite

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The adder or viper (Vipera berus) is common throughout mainland Britain and some of the islands off the west coast of Scotland

  • bites occur from February to October, peaking in June to August (1)
  • about 50% of patients are bitten on the hand whilst picking up the adder
  • be very reassuring as most victims are very frightened. Venom is often not injected and, when it is, reactions are often local and mild
  • give paracetamol to control pain
  • refer urgently to casualty department
  • do not suck the wound
  • immobilise the patient during urgent transfer to casualty department
  • splint the arm or leg to reduce dispersal while waiting for hospital antivenom treatment if needed
  • tourniquets, compression bandages and ligatures should not be used (1)
  • anaphylaxis occurs in a small number of patients
  • bites of foreign snakes require specialist advice and may need antiserum

Reference:

  1. Warrell DA. Treatment of bites by adders and exotic venomous snakes. BMJ 2005; 331:1244-47

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