Another deadly snake is around. The pit viper is capable of causing life-threatening symptoms.by...K. Venkiteswaran in The Hindu newspaper.

For over a hundred years it has been believed that there are only four verities of deadly snakes in India- the so-called Big Four the cobra, krait, Russell’s viper and saw-scaled viper. The king cobra is known to possess lethal venom but it is rarely encountered and therefore fatalities are non-existent. The other venomous snakes, such as those of the pit viper family, are all regarded as non- lethal. However, Dr. Joseph K. Joseph, Head of the Department of Medicine and Nephrology at the little Flower Hospital in Angamaly, Kerala, and Ian D. Simpson, a herpetologist and member of the World Health Organization Snakebite Treatment Group, have discovered that the hump- nosed pit viper, called “churtta” in the local language, does cause life threatening symptoms and fatalities. These symptoms include the elimination of clotting factors in the blood, and acute renal failure.

The discovery was made possible because the Little Flower Hospital maintains a small museum of dead snakes brought with snake- bite patients. These are cross- referenced to the patient where possible. A detailed review of each of the snakes in this museum and other was able to establish that the hump nosed pit viper was being regularly misidentified as the saw scaled viper and that therefore the true culprit was being concealed. Patient case sheets were examined and the life threatening symptoms confirmed. In a communication e – mailed to The Hindu here, Mr. Simpson said. “ I wholeheartedly recommended hospitals where dead snakes are brought in by patients to preserve them. We are making major discoveries from such collections.”

This discovery has implications for the treatment of snakebite in India. There is currently no effective anti-venom against this species. The hump- nosed pit viper is a small brown snake with lighter/darker brown markings. It is arboreal and terrestrial and inhabits deciduous and secondary forests. It often rests during the day in leaf litter or on bushes and is naturally aggressive. It is found through the Western Ghats including in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa and probably Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Simpson said “I spoke to my friend Rom Whitaker, a leading herpetologist in India, whose new book is the bible of snake localities and he confirmed that the range of this species may me much broader than thought.” Dr. Joseph said.” As there is no effective anti-venom it is essential that doctors pay particular attention to the bleeding and clotting times. For the first 12 hours they may appear normal but then they suddenly start increasing. They must be prepared for the use of dialysis and assisted ventilation.”

Professor David warrell, an authority on the treatment of snake bites, said “Surely in a country a resourceful as India, anti- venom manufactures can develop a new anti- venom which will solve this issue. The Little Flower Hospital, Dr. Joseph and Mr. Simpson plan a series of trials to answer some of the outstanding questions relating to snake bite management