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

• Avicenna's Sand Viper Snake Bite
• Cerastes Vipera Snake Bite
• Sahara Hornless Viper Snake Bite

What is Sahara Sand Viper Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The Sahara sand viper (Cerastes vipera) is a moderately venomous snake found in many parts of the Middle East and North Africa, including in the countries of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. The Sahara sand viper belongs to the viper family or Viperidae
• The snake can grow in size from anywhere between a foot to nearly 2 feet long. The characteristic feature of spiny-like horn projections above each eye noted in similar (Cerastes) species is absent in the Sahara sand viper; hence, its also known as the Sahara hornless viper. The snake’s body is generally yellow, gray, or brown with rows of dark spots along its back; the belly is usually seen in lighter shades
• The Sahara sand viper is a fairly stout-bodied snake with a short, black-tipped tail that may be used to lure prey while it lies buried under the sand. The snake’s head is quite flat, broad, and triangular-shaped, with a narrow and distinct neck. The snake has a short and broad snout. It viper preys on small lizards and rodents, typically during late evenings or night
• The Sahara sand viper is found at elevations of up to 1,000 feet (nearly 300 m), typically in the hot desert - in sand dunes, loose sand, and desert shrub. The snake is generally slow-moving and uses sidewinding for movement, which may be described as “sideways slithering” action
• The Sahara sand viper generally does not have an aggressive disposition. The snake can hold its ground and assume a coiled position with a ready striking intent; the snake can also strike quickly if disturbed. It can hiss loudly and make rasping sounds by rubbing inflated sides of its body together to warn intruders
• Due to its wide distribution, human interactions are not infrequent. The Sahara Sand Viper Snake Bite can seldom result in fatalities due to systemic envenomation (venom injection through a bite) in the absence of treatment. The venom is a mix of potent hemotoxins, and the rate of envenoming is reportedly high
• The signs and symptoms of Sahara Sand Viper Snake Bite may include (at the bite site) severe pain, swelling, skin discoloration, and tissue destruction (rarely). As various body systems gets rapidly affected by the venom, it can result in widespread symptoms including headache, abdominal pain, clotting defects, dizziness, seizures, and shock
• 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 cleaning, respiratory support, and blood transfusion, as needed. The prognosis of Sahara Sand Viper Snake Bite with prompt and effective therapy is good; the fatality rate for untreated bites is less than 1% and deaths are uncommon