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

• Hamadryad Snake Bite
• Ophiophagus Hannah Snake Bite

What is King Cobra Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is a highly venomous and dangerous snake found along large parts of south and eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent and in several north and southeast Asian countries, at altitudes of up to 11,500 feet (3,500 m). The snake belongs to the Elapidae family which generally includes slender and swift-moving snakes. It is the largest venomous snake in the world growing from about 7 feet, to exceedingly rarely, 19 feet in length; its bite can even kill elephants
• Even though heavy, the snake is relatively slender-bodied and sturdy, with a medium-sized tail. The snake’s head is flat and broad with a blunt snout and medium-sized eyes; the head and neck are distinct from each other. Like most cobras, the head and neck of the king cobra can spread into a long hood; juveniles may display throat bands that disappear with age. However, the king cobra is not strictly classified as a “cobra” (Naja sp.); it is the exclusive member of its own group (genus Ophiophagus, meaning snake-eater)
• The average size, color, and pattern of the snake may change considerably from one geographical region to another. The king cobra is noted in olive green, yellow-green, or brown color with thick yellow or black/white bands; the snake’s tail is usually darker than the rest of the body. The bands tend to converge nearer to the head. The throat and underbelly of the snake may be lighter (white-yellow) than the dorsal surfaces
• The snake is terrestrial and almost only feeds on other large snakes (including cobras); rarely, it may prey on rodents and lizards. It prefers to hunt during the day. The king cobra inhabits a wide range of terrain, including open or dense forests, grasslands, hillsides, bamboo thickets, swamps, and cultivated lands
• Even though large in size, the snake has a non-aggressive nature and will tend to escape into dense thickets if disturbed, unless it is nesting/brooding. If provoked sufficiently, the snake can be fearless and intimidating, raising its body to a third of its length. In this position, the king cobra can lunge forward some distance threateningly (the only snake that can do so), challenging its intruder. The snake can expose its hood and growl loudly before striking very fiercely and repeatedly
• Human contact with the snake is not uncommon in the endemic regions. King Cobra Snake Bites can result in early fatalities from systemic envenomation (venom injection through a bite) in the absence of treatment. The highly potent and fast-acting neurotoxic venom can cause systemic effects including tissue necrosis, muscle weakness, and severe flaccid paralysis. The rate of envenoming is over 80% and the snake can inject copious amounts of venom per bite
• The signs and symptoms of a King Cobra Snake Bite may include severe local effects at the bite site, such as pain, swelling, and blistering. As various body systems get rapidly affected by the venom, it can result in widespread symptoms including headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, seizures, dizziness, collapse, and respiratory distress
• Early administration of suitable antivenom (or antivenin) is the mainstay of treatment. Apart from this, symptomatic treatment is necessary which may include pain medication, wound care, intravenous fluid administration, and breathing support, as needed. The prognosis of King Cobra Snake Bite with prompt and effective therapy is good; however, untreated lethality rates are high and vary between 50-60%