Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard stories of people that have been bitten so many times by venomous snakes that they have developed immunity to the venom. On the other hand, I have heard more often that people bitten and treated are more likely to have a greater adverse reaction if bitten again. I was wondering which is more likely to be the case, or if both scenarios can happen?

The latter is much more likely to be the case. One would have to be bitten by the same type of snake repeatedly to develop any kind of immunity. An intended immunity is established & maintained by a series of injections that must be continued as "booster" shots. Even with the shots, one is only protected from the venom of snakes that the shots are derived from. If a person taking the shots is bitten by a snake that has a venom very different from the protection, the victim of the bite would need hospitalization & antivenin just like an unprotected person would.

~~Greg~~

It's like the 102 year old man I heard about recently who claimed his longevity was (in part) the result of a good cigar daily.

Genetics are as unique to indiviuals as anything else. That is why someone like me for example who has had dozens of rearfang and insect bites with little or no reaction can have a sister who is deathly allergic to Bee stings.

Some people can build immunity through injections but the name of the game is if your basic genetics will handle such a proceedure safely in the first place.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Hi
To have an allergy to the venom its self is normaly rare event in the private individual. You'll find some people may have a reaction to the antivenom especially if they have received it in the past, also depending on the quality of the product. Individuals who have been bitten have been shown to have some form of antibody in their system for that perticular snake there after. Unfortunately our immune system is slow in producing specific antibodies when required, 24-48hrs, not quick enough! Hence why people who self immunize, inject on a weekly basis which keeps the antibodies active around the system. This in its self can be dangerous and could lead to the individual becoming hypersensitive to the venom.

John
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"Its no help to hide behind the statement that snake bite accidents are a rarity and that the average Dr seldom or never will treat one. For the bitten patient, it is a matter of life or death, and the rarity of the event is of no interest to him."