Real Poison Center Case

The poison center received a call from the mother of a 12-year old boy who was playing outside his home when he was bitten on the leg by a snake. The boy described the snake as having a brownish, grayish pattern and stated it was curled-up in a striking position next to his bike. The specialist on the phone recommended that the boy be taken to the nearest hospital right away. At the hospital, the doctor noticed that the swelling was minor and there were no other symptoms other than pain and redness at the site of the bite. It was determined that the snake was non-venomous after the boy’s father captured the snake and called the poison center back to describe it. The boy was held for observation for a few hours and was released later that evening.

The snake that was described over the phone was likely a bull snake. It looks similar to a rattlesnake in pattern, colors, and behavior, but it does not have the elliptical eyes or a rattle at the end of the tail. Bull snakes can be more aggressive that rattlesnake but do not have venom. Bull snakes can be found in the same environments as rattlesnakes an can change the shape of their head and shake their tail to mimic a rattlesnake. It is important to note that one should never try to capture a snake. A visual description can be helpful, but only if it can be done safely. Never wait for symptoms to appear; call the poison center or seek medical attention right away if someone is bitten by a snake.