Venomous Snakes in Kenya – Snakes of Medical Importance
Name: Red Spitting Cobra
Description: Orange-red, with a black throat band
Bite Signs & Symptoms:Â
- Local swelling and blistering
- Local necrosis
- Burning pain and redness in eye envenomation
Name: Large Brown Spitting Cobra
Description: Different shades of brown.
Bite Signs & Symptoms:Â
- Severe, progressive swelling
- Necrosis
- Burning pain and redness in eye envenomationLarge Brown Spitting Cobra
Name: Black Mamba
Description: Grey with Black Mouth
Bite Signs & Symptoms:Â
- Tingling of the tongue and lips with a metallic taste.
- Drooping eye lids.
- Descending paralysis envenomation
Name: Puff Adder
Description: Light brown, overlaid with a pattern of dark brown to black U-shaped bands
Bite Signs & Symptoms:Â
- Immediate severe pain, swelling and blistering.
- Necrosis with massive muscle and tissue damage.
- Continuous bleeding from bite wound, mouth, nose and other orifices.
Name: Boomslang
Description: Females brown, males green.
Bite Signs & Symptoms:Â
- Bleeding from bite wound, gums, nose and other orifices.
- Headache, nausea and sleepiness.Â
Name: Echis (Carpet Viper)
Description: Light brown, with pale crossbars along the back
Bite Signs & Symptoms:Â
- Local pain and severe swelling.
- External and internal bleeding