Approach to the diagnosis and management of snakebite envenomation in South Africa in humans

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.