
Administering antiparalytics topically via a nasal spray
A team of researchers led by Dr. Matt Lewin of the California Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Anesthesia at the University of California, San Francisco, has pioneered a novel approach to treating venomous snakebites — administering antiparalytics topically via a nasal spray. This new, needle-free treatment may dramatically reduce the number of global snakebite fatalities, currently estimated to be as high as 125,000 per year.
The team demonstrated the success of the new treatment during a recent experiment conducted at UCSF; their results have been published in the medical journal Clinical Case Reports.
Snakebite is one of the most neglected of tropical diseases — the number of fatalities is comparable to that of AIDS in some developing countries. It has been estimated that 75% of snakebite victims who die do so before they ever reach the hospital, predominantly because there is no easy way to treat them in the field. Antivenoms provide an imperfect solution for a number of reasons — even if the snake has been identified and the corresponding antivenom exists, venomous bites often occur in remote locations far from population centers, and antivenoms are expensive, require refrigeration, and demand significant expertise to administer and manage.
“In addition to being an occupational hazard for field scientists, snakebite is a leading cause of accidental death in the developing world, especially among otherwise healthy young people,” says Lewin, the Director of the Center for Exploration and Travel Health at the California Academy of Sciences. “We are trying to change the way people think about this ancient scourge and persistent modern tragedy by developing an inexpensive, heat-stable, easy-to-use treatment that will at least buy people enough time to get to the hospital for further treatment.”
In his role as Director of the Academy’s Center for Exploration and Travel Health, Lewin prepares field medicine kits for the museum’s scientific expeditions around the world and often accompanies scientists as the expedition doctor. In 2011, Lewin put together snakebite treatment kits for the Academy’s Hearst Philippine Biodiversity Expedition, which would have required scientists to inject themselves if they needed treatment. When he saw their apprehension about the protocol, Lewin began to wonder if there might be an easier way to treat snakebite in the field.
In some fatal snakebites, victims are paralyzed by the snake’s neurotoxins, resulting in death by respiratory failure. A group of common drugs called anticholinesterases have been used for decades to reverse chemically-induced paralysis in operating rooms and, in intravenous form, to treat snakebite when antivenoms are not available or not effective. However, it is difficult to administer intravenous drugs to treat snakebite outside of a hospital, so Lewin began to explore the idea of a different delivery vehicle for these antiparalytics — a nasal spray.
In early April of 2013, Lewin and a team of anesthesiologists, led by Dr. Philip Bickler at UCSF Medical Center, designed and completed a complex experiment that took place at the medical center. During the experiment, a healthy human volunteer was paralyzed, while awake, using a toxin that mimics that of cobras and other snakes that disable their victims by paralysis. The experimental paralysis mimicked the effects of neurotoxic snakebite, progressing from eye muscle weakness all the way to respiratory difficulty, in the same order as is usually seen in envenomation. The team then administered the nasal spray and within 20 minutes the patient had recovered. The results of this experiment were published online in the medical journal, Clinical Case Reports.
The Latest Bing News on:
Venomous Snakebites
- ‘10k die of snakebite in Bihar annually’on July 29, 2024 at 4:12 pm
Read about the alarming number of snakebite deaths in Bihar and the urgent need for snakebite prevention measures. Learn more about the impact of climate change on snakebite incidence and the role of ...
- Surge in snakebites due to global warming, 50,000 deaths annuallyon July 29, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Echoing findings from various studies on climate change and biodiversity, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy raised a critical issue in the Lok Sabha on Monday regarding the rise in snakebite incidents and ...
- Bitten by a venomous snake in Kentucky’s wilderness? These tips could save your lifeon July 18, 2024 at 7:59 am
Even a venomous bite from a timber rattlesnake, one of Kentucky’s two rattlesnake species, will take six to eight hours for life-threatening symptoms to occur, Wiley said. Timber rattlesnakes are a ...
- Blood Thinner May Be New Cheap Antidote For Snake Bites, Study Suggestson July 17, 2024 at 11:00 am
Heparin can cost between $20 and $350, while antivenoms already on the market can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars.
- Venomous snake known its bite can be found in Ohioon July 17, 2024 at 9:35 am
National Geographic reports that copperheads easily survive in developed areas and that this may be one reason they’re responsible for the most venomous snake bites. In Ohio, the eastern copperhead is ...
- Venomous snake known for their bite can be found in Ohioon July 17, 2024 at 9:34 am
National Geographic reports that copperheads easily survive in developed areas and that this may be one reason they’re responsible for the most venomous snake bites. In Ohio, the eastern copperhead is ...
- Snake bites in Myrtle Beach? Here’s how many one hospital treats and what you should knowon July 16, 2024 at 10:23 am
Have you gotten bitten by a snake in South Carolina? This hospital is a national leader in treating wildlife wounds of all kinds.
- If a copperhead snake bites your dog in SC, follow these tips to save the pupon July 9, 2024 at 1:25 am
There are several “old wives tales” regarding treatment of venomous snakebites at home or in the field. These include application of ice to the bite site to constrict blood vessels and slow ...
- Watch out for these venomous snakes while hiking in Pennsylvaniaon July 8, 2024 at 4:46 am
So far in 2024, there have been 64 reported venomous snakebite cases in Pennsylvania, and here are the snakes you'll want to take every precaution to avoid. "The eastern massasauga belongs to the ...
- Watch out for these venomous snakes while hiking in Pennsylvaniaon July 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
So far in 2024, there have been 64 reported venomous snakebite cases in Pennsylvania, and here are the snakes you'll want to take every precaution to avoid. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Venomous Snakebites
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Venomous Snakebites” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Anti paralytics for snakebites
- Local hospital reports uptick in snakebites, says "stay calm"on July 17, 2024 at 10:05 pm
One Hillcrest HealthCare System official reached out to 2 News and said their hospital in Pryor has seen a bit more snakebites than ... come to the E.R. and get anti-venom do very well.” ...
- Inter-departmental workshop on collaborative approaches for snakebites, deaths held in Karnatakaon July 10, 2024 at 4:38 pm
along with a few Community Health Centres (CHCs), as snakebite treating centres, ensuring anti-snake venom supply to all healthcare facilities and provide free treatment for BPL card holders.
- It’s hard to find treatment for snakebites in Kenya. Thousands of people are dying every yearon June 19, 2024 at 8:58 pm
The 32-year-old mother of five knows it could have been avoided if clinics in areas where snakebites are common are stocked with antivenom. Kitui County, where the Kangalis have their farm ...
- How cost of snake anti-venom dey drive Nigerians towards local treatmenton June 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
E further state say 2,000 pipo dey die of snakebite everi year while anoda 2,000 odas lose one of dia legs to save dia lives. In di midst of rising exchange rates, one vial of anti-snake venom now ...
- 95 Pet Dogs Were Bitten By Venomous Vipers–Here’s How Many Survivedon June 8, 2024 at 6:13 am
Approximately 65% of North American venomous snakebites are caused by rattlesnakes. The deadly ... [+] timber rattlesnake, native to the eastern United States, is shown here. Pit vipers produce a ...
- The Antibody Initiative Antivenomon May 10, 2024 at 9:08 pm
In 1930, the museum again collected from the Mulford Company for an exhibition illustrating the manufacture and use of “anti-snake-bite serum ... In the past few years, snakebite antivenom has been in ...
- Race to make local anti-venom hots up as snake bite cases riseon March 20, 2024 at 4:32 am
Kenya is working around the clock to develop its own locally researched and manufactured new anti-venom serum that is more potent in dealing with the rising number of snake bites and reported ...
- Universal antivenom to heal all snakebites is closer to realityon February 21, 2024 at 12:30 pm
This discovery promises a life-saving solution for treating snakebites globally, especially benefiting regions burdened by snakebite incidents. Joseph Jardine, PhD, the study's senior author and ...
- Snakebites May Be On the Rise. Here’s What to Do if You Get One.on August 19, 2023 at 2:54 am
Scientists at Emory University have calculated that for every degree Celsius that the temperature rises, snakebites rise by 6 percent (perhaps because both snakes and humans change their behavior ...
- Snakebites: Like having my hand smashed by a hammer'on May 15, 2019 at 5:26 pm
The battle against deadly snakebites in Nigeria The Wellcome Trust is investing £80m into a new programme to invest in new treatments and better access to effective anti-venoms. And the WHO is ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Anti paralytics for snakebites
[google_news title=”” keyword=”anti paralytics for snakebites” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]