So I was debating with someone on a non reptile (well it is about chickens so kinda is) and they claimed that you should always go to the hospital over any snake bite (we were talking about NA colubrids), even if you know it is non venomous as there is a huge chance of life threatening infections. I told them that I have been bit well over 50 times by messing with wild snakes and that I have never had an issue, but apparently I am just lucky.
This is what they said:
"The scientific facts are that 27% of all snake bites result in infections. These infections are so serious that 68% of those infections require surgical intervention. They can result in life threatening cellulitis because of the depth of the bite. It can be hard to get antibiotics to the area without opening up the wound.
I would say you have been fortunate."
I have never heard of anyone getting a life threatening infection from a north American Colubrid and doubt I would be lucky 50 times. And I feel like if you just use some hand sanitizer after then the risk is pretty much 0.
Before anyone says it, I know any wound can cause an infection
They’re fearmongering. I’d like to know where they got their “facts” and what the variables were as far as location of the study, species involved, treatment steps taken, etc. Many American colubrids don’t even have teeth long enough to inflict a deep bite. As long as you properly wash the area and keep an eye on it, chances of having issues are unlikely.
You should see if they interact with cats at all, because if so, they’re being quite hypocritical. Cat bites have an infection rate of between 28-80%, depending on factors. As a matter of fact, cat bites are considered such a high potential for severe infection that you are supposed to seek immediate medical treatment and antibiotics in the case of one. According to a three year study by the Mayo Clinic, 1 in 3 cat bites to the hand require hospitalization, and two thirds of those needed surgery.
I highly doubt this is “scientific fact”. And if it is then it is a gross oversimplification of the “facts” (e.g., any form of redness/swelling/tenderness being classified as an infection). Further, you have to account for ‘selection bias’ in studies like these - which is to say they are compiled only from cases where individuals have sought medical treatment after receiving a snake bite (most likely because it became something more serious than just the little peck we are all used to) and therefore are missing a HUGE number of snake bites that are never reported
As Jess so correctly notes, what they are telling you is nothing more than fearmongering and they have more to worry about from their pet cats and dogs. And I can speak from first hand experience on the prior after six sutures, a rabies booster, a tetanus shot, and a course of augmentin
In my opinion, if they are spitting stats there needs to be a citation attached, both to support what they said and give you the option to see where they got their ‘facts’ and how the study might be biased or misinterpreted.
But then again this has been beaten into me for years now (just finished my Master’s proposal), so seeing stats ‘naked’ is jarring anyway
Everything said is pretty much exactly what I thought. They seem like a very level headed individual though so I am inclined to believe/hoping that it was a bad source or miss reading something (maybe about the rate of infection over venomous snake bites?).
Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles and this one is not worth the effort Logan. But good for you for standing your ground because you know way better than this fall da rall! Keep on keepin on! You’re doin great
Edit to add: Btw where ya been young man? Too many old f***s on this forum! We need some young blood here!!!
That’s true. I always have had a hard time seeing when stopping is the better option lol.
I have been really tired lately and school has been kicking my butt. And then I got covid and I missed a week of school so I am having to get a whole bunch of make up work done along with my normal school work and it has just been a lot. I am almost caught up though so I will be back and active within a few days
It’s definitely a concern of it breaks the skin… But not in the numbers presented. Pretty much what everyone else has said.
I’ve seen some gnarly bites from cats in the past. And typically it was the indoor/outdoor cats that were prone to causing an infection. There is the logical reason of them being exposed to things outside. We don’t experience this often as we pretty much keep our reptiles indoors only.
I take any bite from anything larger than a hatchling seriously enough to eyeball a couple times over the next few days. But that’s about it. I’m a bit immunodeficient.
Heck I got a good defensive bite from one of my Retics last month that was hard enough to leave a tooth in there. Bruised up really good. But I was smart enough to wash it out really good and bandage it while it was actively bleeding.
Had this been a wild snake, I’d probably do the same. At least rinsing it off when I could and keeping a good eye on it for any signs of infection over the next 48 hours or so.
Well if 27% of all snake bites, let alone all reptile bites, causes infection and 68% of those infections require surgical intervention I guess I’m just a walking miracle lol. I’ve been bitten so many times in the past 15/16 years of owning reptiles (some by my adult Boa Constrictor which were the most severe, and once by my Western Hognose) that I’ve lost count, not once have I ever had anything worse than mild swelling/irritation in the area of the bite.
No antibiotics or medical intervention needed outside of a little antiseptic wash. Which of course I think everyone should do anyway with every open wound they recieve, its basic hygene and health care. Some people just love spewing stuff they’ve heard on their facebook groups and it causes misinformation everywhere
This also goes without saying if someone suspects they have been bitten by a venomous snake they should seek immediate medical care. I’ve also seen that side of poor judgment way too often where people pick up snakes in the wild they have no idea how to identify.
Oh my! You poor young man! I am so sorry you have had to deal with that stinkin c word! Glad you are feeling better, pulling up your boot strap and getting back in the saddle!
Kudos to you for doing the right thing to keep up with your school work (grades) and forgo the things that are not necessary and not nearly as important! You are going to have that practice and business one of these days! You will be able to match wits with the great one T H Wyman!!!
People be talkin’ crazy stuff. I have a tendency to request citations when people throw out gobbledygook like that, but sometimes it’s not worth the effort.
The worst infection I personally ever got from a bit was from my own fully vaccinated indoor cat. It was very unpleasant, and went on for what felt like forever, even though I got meds within 24 hours.
Any wound has the potential to become infected. However, I’ve never had an infected snake bite. Normally they bleed so profusely that they get pretty flushed out. I’ve always just washed them with soap and water and then pretty much forget about them. They’ve always healed up just fine.
I’ve never seen any real evidence that suggests snake bites become seriously infected at rates higher than other wounds. Actually, most people claim exactly the opposite, because of the afore-mentioned profuse bleeding.
Just want to add that even some data sources, although cited, can be manipulated very easily due to unscrupulous higher-ups who can “weight” data to make it look however they want, depending on for whom the data is being collected. Been there, lived through that morally-defunct manner of data manipulation/reporting procedure!
In my previous research job of 14 years it was absolutely the status quo and it bothered me every day of my existence there, unfortunately. Even kept me up at night sometimes. I hope it isn’t rampant in the data collection world, but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised.
heh heh heh……