What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Rough-Scaled Snake Bite
• Tropidechis Carinatus Snake Bite

What is Clarence River Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The Clarence River snake (Tropidechis carinatus) is a highly venomous snake found in tropical and temperate Australia, particularly along the eastern coasts in the states of New South Wales (along the Clarence River) and Queensland. The snake belongs to the Elapidae family that generally includes slender and swift moving snakes. The snake may range in size from over 1.5 feet to nearly 3.5 feet in length. It is also called the rough-scaled snake
• The Clarence River snake is usually found near freshwater bodies including coastal swamps. It also inhabits wet dense woodlands and regions with heavy rainfall. The snake is land-dwelling and semi-aquatic; it can also climb small trees and tall plants and is often found sheltering in tree holes or vegetation above the ground. It mainly feeds on frogs, but may hunt small rodents, lizards, and birds too
• The body of the snake is slender to medium-sized. It has a broad head with large eyes and prominent brow ridges. The head is distinct from its neck. The snake’s body is typically cylindrical and uniform in size; it has a moderately long tail. The Clarence River snake is usually seen in shades of brown to dark-brown with mottled darker brown crossbands that may break into irregular blotches with age. The belly of the snake ranges from gray to cream color
• The Clarence River snake is quick and fast-moving but typically shy and non-aggressive in nature. It generally prefers to flee if disturbed, but further provocation can make it short-tempered and aggressive, and it can defend itself very well. The snake may raise its head, neck, and forebody into a coiled “S” position showing a willingness to strike. It may make a hissing sound and strike a few times before trying to move away again
• Contact with humans are not very common, but the snake can be mistaken for the more common and non-venomous freshwater keelback (snake). Clarence River Snake can result in fatalities due to systemic envenomation (venom injection through a bite) in the absence of treatment; the rate of envenoming is between 40-60%. The potent myotoxic-neurotoxic venom released can cause systemic effects including internal bleeding, muscle damage, and respiratory distress
• The signs and symptoms of Clarence River Snake Bite may include local effects at the bite site such as pain, swelling, and bruising. As various body systems gets rapidly affected by the venom, it can result in widespread symptoms including headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, dizziness, flaccid paralysis, and kidney failure
• Early administration of suitable antivenom (or antivenin) is the mainstay of treatment. Apart from this, symptomatic treatment is necessary, which may include pain medication, intravenous fluid administration, respiratory support, and peritoneal dialysis, as needed. The prognosis of Clarence River Snake Bite with prompt and effective therapy is usually good, although untreated death rates are high at 40-50%