A contextual approach to managing snake bite in Pakistan: snake bite treatment with particular reference to neurotoxieity and the ideal hospital snake bite kit.

Although the snakebite mortality numbers for Pakistan are over estimated, snakebite remains a significant problem of rural areas. Significant improvements are possible with locally developed protocols incorporating the latest research. The use of simple reliable diagnostic tools in managing viperine envenomation and the introduction of monitoring cycles based on physiological criteria can greatly improve outcome. The acquisition by hospitals, even the most basic, of inexpensive drugs and simple readily improvisable equipment can dramatically improve patient survival in neurotoxic, particularly cobra envenomation. Basic hospitals can intervene in snakebite management and this is essential if envenomed victims are to be treated early. This paper makes recommendations as to the basic drug and equipment profile to enable all hospitals to successfully manage snakebite in Pakistan.