Abstract:
Snakebite management is largely driven by expert opinion and consensus. However, there are a few large retrospective studies and
randomised controlled trials that have improved the quality of medical guidance currently available. South African snakes are different in
venomous potential to snakes in other parts of the world, and it behoves the hospital provider and the average medical practitioner to know
the current best practice concepts concerning assessment, treatment and antivenom use. The recent South African Snakebite Symposium
meeting in July 2022 provided an update and national consensus from which this Hospital Care document is derived.