Common practices of tourniquets, incision suction harmful

Kochi, July 26 (UNI) A draft National Protocol on Snakebites has been finalised here, taking into consideration the large number of snakebite deaths in India, which was estimated to be around 50,000 per annum, In a conference that was jointly organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) along with Poison Control Centre at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences AIMS last evening, common practices such as tourniquets or incision suction used by people for snakebite treatment has been described as ''extremely harmful,'' The draft National Protocol on snakebite management said the best thing was to immobilise the bitten limb and rush the patient to hospital.

The protocol which consists of two major sections -- a first aid protocol and a hospital management protocol -- the draft protocol lists the guidelines and ''do's and don'ts'' to build awareness in the community as well as among doctors, would be now forwarded to the Union Health Ministry and the WHO for ratification.

Talking to UNI about the highlights of the protocol, Conference organising Secretary V V Pillay said there were no documented studies available to show that tying of tourniquets or suction of venom were effective methods to treat snakebites. In fact these methods do not work and result in a lot of harm, leading to high levels of mortality and morbidity due to snakebites in India.

Tying tourniquets may lead to gangrene and sucking them out venom, especially through the mouth or other suction devices, can cause infection,'' Dr Pillay, who heads the AIMS here, said.

Application of ice, another common practice, is also useless and can lead to necrosis of the tissue, he added.

The best thing to do in case of snakebite was to immobilise the affected limb with a splint to minimise its movement and then rush the victim to hospital. While paracetamol can be administered to minimise pain, asprin should not be given as it can cause bleeding.

Once in hospital, the patient should be kept under observation for at least 24 hours. Anti-venom should be administered only if symptoms of envenomation such as swelling, bleeding from the wound or gums and drooping of eyelids surface. Otherwise it may result in wastage of anti-venom, which is quite expensive and also cause more damage, as anti-venom can have severe side-effects,'' Dr Pillay said. This was necessary as not all snakes were venomous. Sometimes a venomous snake may caused only a ''dry bite,'' for which there will be no envenomation.

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