In the US there are about 45,000 snake bites per year. Nonvenomous snake bites usually are inconsequential. Worldwide members include the Leventine viper, puff adder, horned desert viper, and carpet viper. Symptoms include pain, edema, eccymosis, vesiculation, and tissue necrosis. Systemic symptoms include weakness, diaphoresis, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, myonecrosis, hemmorhage, and shock.
Therapy is primarily supportive.
Any tourniquet should only be tightened to impede venous flow. Polyvalent antivenin is available for pit vipers. Worldwide members include cobras, mambas, and kraits. Their venom contains more neurotoxins than the pit vipers. Antivenin is available.