Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Snakebites causes
Introduction
Causes
Causes
Poisonous snake bites include bites by any of the following:
- Cobra
- Copperhead
- Coral snake
- Cottonmouth (water moccasin)
- Rattlesnake
- Various snakes found at zoos
All snakes will bite when threatened or surprised, but most will usually avoid people if possible and only bite as a last resort.
Snakes found in and near water are often mistaken as being poisonous. Most species of snake are harmless and many bites are not life-threatening, but unless you are absolutely sure that you know the species, treat it seriously.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]