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

• Micrurus Lemniscatus Snake Bite
• Ribbon Coral Snake Bite
• Tricolored Coral Snake Bite

What is South American Coral Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The South American coral snake (Micrurus lemniscatus) is a moderately venomous snake found in South America in the nations of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. The snake belongs to the Elapidae family that generally includes slender and swift moving snakes, of genus coral snakes (Micrurus) that form a large group of elegant and ‘mostly’ brightly colored and banded venomous reptiles. There are several subspecies of Micrurus lemniscatus
• The body of the snake is slender to medium, and it has a small, rounded head and blunt snout. The head and neck of the snake are almost continuous (same size). The body is typically cylindrical and uniform in size; it has a short tail. The tail mimics the head, such as noted in many other coral snake species
• Like many colorful and glossy coral snakes, the South American coral snake is characterized by a black and red head with white rings around the eyes. The snake pattern consists of moderately broad red rings separated by triads of three black and two white rings. The snake’s tail may have alternating black and white bands. The snake may range in size from almost 2.5 feet to nearly 5 feet in length
• The South American coral snake is terrestrial and generally feeds on small lizards, other snakes, and swamp eels, typically at night. The snake is found in lower montane wet forest, lowland rainforest, savanna, gallery forest, secondary forest, lowland flood plains, rocky regions, and cleared forests. It is frequently found near human settlements in humid environments or near waterbodies. The snake may be seen in altitudes up to 3,300 feet (1,000 m)
• Like many coral snakes, the snake is typically solitary and docile and tends to silently move away when disturbed. South American Coral Snake Bites can rarely result in fatalities due to systemic envenomation (venom injection through a bite) in the absence of treatment. The potent myotoxic-neurotoxic venom released can cause systemic effects including significant muscle damage and respiratory distress
• The signs and symptoms of South American Coral Snake Bite may include mild local effects at the bite site such as pain and swelling. As various body systems gets rapidly affected by the venom, it can result in widespread symptoms including convulsions, dizziness, severe 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 South American Coral Snake Bite with prompt and effective therapy is usually good, but deaths have been reported without adequate treatment