Puff Adder

DESCRIPTION:

The average adult length of a Puff Adder is 80 cm to 120cm reaching up to around 180 cm. These are thick-bodied snakes with a blunt wedge-shaped head. The color pattern varies geographically and they are usually well-camouflaged. There is a pale line between the eyes which broadens on each side of the head, becoming a wide bar extending the lips. Two adjacent dark bars extend at oblique angles from the eye to the upper lips. Various shades of brown in color with a series of V-shaped bands which may be more U-shaped in some areas. The V-shaped bands form two to six light-and-dark cross-bands on the tail. The belly is yellow or white, with a few scattered dark spots.

HABITS & HABITAT:

The Puff Adder is found in any habitat but absent from rain-forest, true-desert and high-altitude alpine habitats. Quite fond of rocky grasslands. Puff adders can climb and swim well. These snakes are nocturnal but may bask in the sun in cooler weather. Usually sluggish and moves in a straight-line ‘walking’ with its ribs, but capable of serpentine movement, especially when trying to escape danger. When unduly provoked it will hiss loudly and strike out when in range of the enemy.

DISTRIBUTION:

Found over most of sub-saharan Africa as well as Morocco in North Africa and the south-western coastal parts of the Arabian peninsula (Saudi-Arabia, Yemen, Oman).

VENOM:

The venom of the Puff Adder is Cytotoxic & Haemotoxic.

SYMPTOMS:

Puff Adder bites require immediate medical attention; Bites to children should be considered a medical emergency; There will be intense pain within minutes after the bite that will intensify; Local swelling commences within minutes, gradually becoming more severe and will feel hot to the touch; There may be bleeding from the bite site. In time, there may be signs of bleeding in gums, nose, blood, vomit and urine; The bite site area appears red, purple, blue or darkly discoloured; Blood blisters may develop randomly 6-48 hours after envenomation; With time, necrosis is common; Diarrhoea and vomiting are common symptoms.

FIRST AID:

Remember to remain calm; Gently wash the affected area with water, nothing else; Remove rings, jewellery and other restrictive clothing or shoes; Make a note of the time the bite occurred; Gently elevate (lift) the affected limb; Keep the limb elevated until you have reached the medical facility. DO NOT: Do not, under any circumstances, use a tourniquet (tie a band, belt or rope) or a pressure bandage to the affected limb; Do not cut the bite site; Do not drink a herbal remedy.

ANTIVENOM:

EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP.