With increasing sightings of snakes across Egypt summer, more and more citizens are concerned about why they are emerging from their burrows, where they are spreading, and what to do if bitten.
The Professor and Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology at Alexandria University, Maha Ghanem, revealed the scientific reasons behind the increased snake activity and the most important first aid measures that can save someone’s life is bitten.
She assured that the appearance of snakes in several Egyptian governorates during the summer is nothing new.
These reptiles have been present for years in various agricultural and desert areas, including Beheira, Siwa, and Sharqia, and their activity increases with rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions.
Ghanem said that increased temperatures are one of the factors contributing to snake activity, but isn’t the only reason.
Floods and soil erosion in some areas may force snakes out of their burrows, she said, adding that snake eggs in some areas indicates that their presence is natural and not new.
She added that the increasing number of rodents, especially rats, during the summer also drives snakes to leave their burrows in search of food.
The urban expansion into agricultural and desert lands has reduced snakes natural habitats and increased their chances of encountering people.
What to do when bitten
She emphasized that anyone bitten by a snake should immediately go to the nearest specialized poison control center or hospital where antivenom is available.
Ghanem noted that all universities have poison control centers, and the antivenom is also available in several Health Ministry hospitals.
She explained that venomous snakes in Egypt are divided into types that differ in their effects. Cobra venom affects the nervous system and causes gradual muscle paralysis, while other types, such as the saw-scaled viper, cause blood clotting disorders and bleeding that can be dangerous if not treated quickly.
Ghanem warned against certain incorrect practices in dealing with stings, such as tightly tying off the affected limb or cutting the sting site and attempting to suck out the venom, as these can lead to serious complications and offer no medical benefit.
Proper first aid consists of washing the sting site, minimizing the victim’s movement, and then transporting them as quickly as possible to the nearest medical center to receive the antivenom and necessary medical care.
Ghanem added that while some snakebites may not inject venom, it is impossible for the victim or those around them to distinguish between venomous and non-venomous bites.
Therefore, all bites should be treated as medical emergencies until doctors can prove otherwise.
She emphasized that getting to the hospital quickly is the most crucial factor in saving the victim’s life.
Delaying treatment can lead to the spread of venom throughout the body, she warned, causing gradual paralysis that begins with vision and speech disturbances and then extends to the respiratory muscles, or causes bleeding from the nose and mouth, depending on the type of snake.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
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