Visit govt hospitals for snakebite treatment, says Mohali health dept

The Mohali health department on Wednesday issued an advisory, detailing that anti-venom injections for snakebites were available at all major government health facilities in the district. The health department, in the advisory, asked residents to approach government hospitals immediately in case of snakebites.

Mohali Civil Surgeon, Dr Mahesh Kumar, in the advisory, said that during rainy season, cases of snakebites are common. In addition to many types of non-venomous species, poisonous snakes like the common krait, Russell’s viper, and cobras are also found in Punjab. These snakes are quite venomous and patients should be given anti-venom injections without any delay. They said that after being bitten by a snake, one should visit a government hospital instead of going to so-called tantriks/babas/quacks who have no medical treatment or expertise to treat snakebites.

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The civil surgeon said that anti-venom injections were available at District Hospital in Mohali and sub-divisional hospitals in Dera Bassi and Kharar. The health department helpline number 104 may be contacted for any medical information.

Symptoms of snakebite
Pain, swelling, oozing, blisters, bleeding at the affected site, drooping of eyelids, difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, weakness in the neck muscles, difficulty in lifting head, bleeding from the ears, nose, throat, gums or elsewhere are some of the common symptoms of snakebites, the advisory stated.