Animal Irritant Poison

Blister Beetle

The blister beetle is also known as the Spanish Fly. If consumed, blister beetle causes Cantharide poisoning.

The Active principle in the poison is Cantharidin.  One beetle contains 0.2-0.7 mg of cantharidin. Indian flies contain 3% of cantharidin.

The blister beetle produces painful blisters. However, the local population where this beetle is found consumes it orally as it increases libido. That is, it is an Aphrodisiac. It causes priapism, that is, Painful erection of the penis. The Fatal dose of Cantharidin is 15-30mg.

Cantharidin is nephrotoxic and can cause chronic renal failure. The patient might have symptoms of uremia.

Scorpion Buthidae

Arachnids have 8 legs. The group of Arachnids includes scorpions and Spiders. The mechanism of Action of the poison from scorpions and spiders is the uncontrolled release of Catecholamine. It affects the sodium-potassium channel.

Scorpion poison is Neurotoxic and Hemotoxic. The toxin resembles a spider and a cobra. The amount is less, so it is not fatal, but it still causes an autonomic storm.

Local Symptoms of Scorpion Poisoning

• Intense pain
• Swelling
• Blisters
• Sweating palpitation
• chest pain
• Mydriasis
• Priapism

Treatment of Scorpion Poisoning

• Immobilization
• Pain (NSAID)
• Asv (Anti Scorpion Venom)
• Alpha Blocker (Prazosin)

Spider

The toxin in spider poison is a neurotoxin which causes a local Necrosis. It is an Excitatory type of neurotoxin. The most poisonous spider is the Black widow.

Treatment of Spider poisoning

• Antihistamines
• If infection, then include Antibiotics 
• Dapsone

Snake Study

The study of snake poison is known as Ophiology. Following are the types of snakes:

• Viperidae: This group includes Russel's viper and saw-scaled viper. Viper is Vasculotoxic
• Elapidae: This group includes Cobra and common Krait. These snakes are Neurotoxic
• Hydrophiidae: This includes Sea snakes. Sea snakes are myotoxic. That is, they act on skeletal muscles.

Dangerous and Poisonous Snakes in India

• Cobra
  • Fatal dose: 12 mg
• Common Krait
  • Fatal dose: 6 mg
  • Krait is the most poisonous snake
• Russell Viper
  • Fatal dose: 15mg
• Saw Scaled Viper
  • Fatal dose: 8 mg
• King Cobra
  • Fatal dose: 12 mg (But more amount)
  • King Cobra is the most dangerous snake.
  • One bite of a cobra snake has 200-250 mg of venom
  • It is more in King Cobra.
• Sea Snake 
  • Flat tail (Paddling)
• Python
  • Python is a Non-poisonous snake
  • Cause traumatic Asphyxia by encircling.

To read about the differences between Poisonous and Non-Poisonous snakes, sign up to the prepladder app and watch the video in the forensic medicine subject.

Differences between Cobra and King Cobra

Gland And Fangs

The fang is a Maxillary tooth, while the gland produces and sometimes stores poison. Glands are modified salivary glands. The salivary gland duct opens behind the teeth. Whenever a snake bites, it passes through the body by puncturing the skin. 

If you drink the venom, it is not poisonous. Poison causes ulcers in GI tract.

Also Read: NEET PG 2025: High-Yield Topics For Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Signs and Symptoms

• Most common symptom: Fright (A most common cause of death)
• Anxiety
• Chest pain
• Palpitation
• 70-80% are non-venomous snakes, and 20% of venomous snakes are dry bite. Dry bite was most commonly seen in cobra.
• Local symptoms
  • Pain
  • Swelling 
  • Blisters
  • Bleeding (Characteristic)
  • Necrosis
  • Regional Lymphadenopathy (Characteristic)
• Local symptoms are maximum with viper. 
• Local symptoms are less with krait as there are no bite marks or symptoms.

Treatment of Snake Bite

• Follow the RIGHT strategy.
  • R: Reassure
  • I: Immobilization
  • G H: Go to the Hospital
  • T: Tell the doctor all the history and symptoms.
• The following mistakes should be avoided
  • Suction
  • Ligature
  • Tourniquet
  • Cautery
  • Electricity/electric shock
• Immobilize the limb where the snake has bitten with a Crepe bandage or Sutherland Wrap. The motive is to occlude lymphatic drainage as the venom passes through the lymphatic system.
• ASV: The route of ASV is IV. ASV is given at a rate of 1-2 mL/kg. The maximum dose is 8-10 vials. ASV is in the form of frozen or dried powder. The dried powder uses some diluent. Calmette discovered ASV. Hawkins Institute in India makes the ASV. ASV is available for four snakes: Cobra, Krait, Russell Viper, and Saw-scaled viper.

ASV should occur within 4-5 hours of the bite. The Source of ASV is Horse Hyperimmunized serum. ASV can cause Allergies or anaphylaxis. Therefore, adrenaline should be kept ready to counteract any allergies.

Other Treatment for Snakebite

• Neostigmine: 1.5mg is given. Anticholinesterase increases the acute-cholinergic effect and Reduces Respiratory failure. It acts as a Post synaptic toxin action as in cobra
• Atropine: 0.6mg is given to control the muscarinic effect of anti-cholinesterase
• Antibiotics and thickness toxoid: For infection 
• ASV+Neostigmine+Atropine+Mechanical ventilation: For cobra bite.
• ASV, FFP, and surgical debridement: Done in viper bite
• ASV+Mechanical ventilation: Krait
• Krait Venom: Presynaptic action

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Q: What is the toxin in spider poison?

Answer: The toxin in spider poison is a neurotoxin.

Q: What is the treatment for cobra bite?

Answer: ASV+Neostigmine+Atropine+Mechanical ventilation

Q: What is the treatment regime used in viper bite?

Answer: ASV, FFP, and surgical debridement.

Q: In bite from which snake ASV+Mechanical ventilation is given?

Answer: Krait

Q: Which is the most common symptom of snake bite?

Answer: The most common symptom is fright from a snake bite.

Q: What is the most common cause of death in snake bites?

Answer: Fright is the most common cause of death in Snake bites.

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