ABSTRACT
In the European countries, however, the incidence of bites from foreign venomous and harmless species of snakes has shown an increasing trend among herpetologists, tamers, and enthusiasts handling such kinds of reptiles. From ancient times, man and domestic animals have been victims of snakebites. In tropical and subtropical regions, venomous snakebites are an important problem from a medical standpoint. Snakebites frequently induce severe polymicrobial infections in the site of bite, requiring antibiotic therapy. The organisms responsible usually come from the natural flora of the skin or the victim, from the environment, or from the venom, fangs, or mouth cavity of the offending snake. The only specific treatment of envenomation caused by snakebite is antivenin. This treatment is often vital in severe cases, but it should be administered only when there is clear evidence of envenomation, when the symptoms are severe, and the treatment can be started at an early stage.
