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

• Atractaspis Dahomeyensis Snake Bite
• Brown Burrowing Asp Snake Bite
• Dahomeyan Burrowing Adder Snake Bite

What is Dahomey Burrowing Asp Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The Dahomey burrowing asp (Atractaspis dahomeyensis) is a venomous snake found distributed in some regions to the west-southwest of the African continent, primarily along the coastal nations. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo
• The Dahomey burrowing asp belongs to the Elapidae family, which generally includes slender and swift moving snakes. The slender to medium-sized burrowing snake has a short, pointed tail. Its head is small and conical and indistinct from the neck, with a broad and flattened snout. The small and cylindrical snake usually ranges in size from 10 inches to about 2 feet in length
• The snake has fairly large fangs that protrude from the corners of its mouth which appears partially-closed. Since the fangs protrude out of its mouth, the snake can strike without really opening their mouths (using one side fang too). The body of the Dahomey burrowing asp is smooth, glossy, and may be grey, pink-grey, brown, or black. The snake has a pale-colored underbelly
• The Dahomey burrowing asp is a ground-dwelling reptile that takes shelter in tiny tunnels and rodent burrows underground. The snake is known to surface during the rainy seasons. It mainly inhabits the grassland savannahs and woodland regions. The snake is nocturnal and typically hunts during the night, mainly preying on lizards, other snakes, and small mammals
• The reptile mostly prefers to escape and does not attempt to bite if threatened mildly. If cornered, the snake arches its neck with the head being pointed towards the ground in an inverted "U" shape. If provoked further, it may coil up tightly and thrash its head about violently. The snake is almost impossible to hold safely by hands
• Contact with humans is uncommon even though it is distributed extensively. Dahomey Burrowing Asp Bites can occasionally result in fatalities due to systemic envenomation (venom injection through a bite), if the condition is left untreated, from the presence of highly potent cardiotoxins and other compounds in the venom. Generally, fatal bites are highly uncommon
• The signs and symptoms of Dahomey Burrowing Asp Snake Bite may be non-specific and include severe pain and swelling at the bite site, headache, diarrhea, weakness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness. Severe complications may involve the cardiovascular system resulting in myocardial infarction; tissue necrosis may also be noted
• Currently, no suitable antivenom (or antivenin) is available for Dahomey Burrowing Asp Snake Bites. Symptomatic treatment is mainly considered that includes wound care and cleaning, cardiac monitoring, and breathing support, as needed. The prognosis of the condition with prompt and effective therapy is usually excellent