Hi,
i hope you can give your opinion on something.  Several days ago while playing golf in Apopka, Fla., I think I was bitten possibly by a snake.  I was retrieving a ball in the woods, and had to push some tree limbs back with my arms to get it.  When i came out of the woods, I felt a severe burning sensation on my elbow.  I thought I had burned myself with my cigar.  When I looked at it, it had a large blistered area.  I walked up to the green and my armpit started hurting and that turned into severe chest pains.  When I looked at my arm again, red streaks were moving up the arm-to-arm pit.  Entire arm was numb.  I took benadryl and went to er and they treated symptoms, but had no idea what kind of bite.  The remaining bruise is a small semi-circle with 2 very small prick marks underneath.  Any ideas???   My son and I are having a good time looking at your web-site trying to solve the mystery.

Thanks for your reply
Greg and Zak Stone

ps.  The wound felt like a cigar burn for a good 8-10 hours.  Very painful.

 

From:    Lee Moore
To:      Greg and Zack
Subject: Re: snake-bite
Date:    Wed, 03 Dec 2003 17:24:17 +0000

Dear Greg and Zack,

Your case does sound like some kind of envenomation. I would like to comment
that you were correct with administering Benadryl . It can have positive
effects ranging from mild to moderate. However it should be pure Benadryl,
Diphenhydramine, HCl. Without decongestant. It should also be pointed out that
it effects are probably to slow to have a life saving effect if it was so
severe. It will, however, lesson the longer term and less severe effects
following envenomation and allergic reactions. It can also help to prepare the
body in case antivenom is subsequently administered, to help prevent or reduce
the effects of an allergic reaction to the serum.

Where was the bitten area exposed to? Was it near the ground level, within a
few inches or ground contact?

Typically there is some blood oozing from the bite marks following most snake
envenomations, but not all. However, with snakes indigenous to the United

States, this is almost, if not always the case to some extent. "Scratches"
from venomous snakes, as opposed to an actual bite, can be more difficult to
predict. This would also be less pronounced in cases involving neurotoxins
such as the Coral snake and more with the other types of venomous snakes. 
The chest pains are subjective and difficult in helping us.  Pain can radiate
in any direction. The chest pain may also, in any case be something you
should look into. It can be an indication of some under lying heart or health
problem. That is something that only a physician can give you good advice
about. I will guess that the chest pains where subsequent to the adrenaline
that is produced by the body to help compensate for any changes it may
encounter. Adrenaline, Epinephrine, is a vasoconstricting hormone that
increases blood pressure and speeds up the heart. Its purpose is to help to
prevent and naturally treat Cardiovascular shock.


From what I understand of your case, it sounds like you may have been bitten
by a Pigmy Rattlesnake. They will sometimes set on low branches of scrubs and
bushes. In most people the effects of it's bite is usually limited to
swelling of the bitten extremity and dark discoloration associated with
ecchymosis around the fang punctures, as you described in your case. There is
not much tissue damage associated with bites from pigmy rattlesnakes The size
of the snake can be estimated by the distant between the two holes.

Thank you for your interests and questions. If I can be of any further
assistance please let me know.

Sincerely,

Lee Moore