‘RUSH VICTIMS TO HOSPITALS FOR ANTI-VENOM’

Taking the scientific view, Dr Bharat Bhushan, former professor and head of medicine department at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, says, “Snake bite victims should be rushed to hospital for getting anti-venom than going to faith healers.” He added that 80-85% snake bites were non-toxic and only 15-20% were venomous, which largely fall in neurotoxic and haemotoxic categories.

“However, patients, especially from rural areas, come to us at a later stage. Victims stung by neurotoxic snakes die on the spot. In the case of haemotoxic snakes, victims start bleeding and there is renal failure among some. The government spends lakhs of rupees on antivenom. I have not seen any snake bite victim dying in hospital, provided he or she is rushed in time,” adds Dr Bhushan.

“In case of non-poisonous snakes, faith healers treat victims as there is no poison involved. In case of toxic snakes, when the victim dies, the onus is put on the families for delay in bringing the victim late,” he adds.

› Our temple has been curing snake bite victims since 1979. We perform some rituals, then volunteers take turns and suck venom out of victim’s body. GULDEV RAJ, priest, Baba Dhanvantari Temple, Lalyana

› In case of non-poisonous snakes, faith healers treat victims. In case of toxic snakes, when victim dies, onus is put on families for delay in bringing victim. DR BHARAT BHUSHAN, exprof and head, GMCH Jammu