Traditional first aid in a case of snake bite: more harm than good.

To cite: Yanamandra U, Yanamandra S. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013202891 DESCRIPTION A 22-year-old man bitten by a snake reported to this centre 24 h after traditional first aid at the village. At presentation, he had no features of systemic envenomation. Local examination of the right lower limb revealed a clear delineation mark secondary to tight bands (tourniquet) (thin black arrows in figures 1 and 2), limb covered with cow dung and use of snake stones. On washing the limb, fang marks (broad red arrow in figure 1) with multiple local incisions/pricks/punctures below the knee in the bitten limb and blisters (figures 2–5) were noticed. Based on the history, he was administered bolus dose of Indian polyvalent antivenin before removing the tourniquet. The patient developed features of septicaemia, muscle spasms, dysphagia after 7 days of the bite