Anuradhapura Hospital’s Consultant Dr.Udaya De Silva yesterday assured that Government Hospitals have all necessary medical facilities to treat snake bite victims and urged people to take such patients to Government hospitals immediately for treatment.
He made these remarks at a press a press briefing conducted by a group of medical specialists in Colombo.
Referring to a recent incident where a 16- year old boy died after being stung by a viper in his garden at Anuradhapura Dr. de Silva said snake-bite victims should be immediately taken to a Government Hospital with or without the serpent that the person was stung by.
According to the father of the victim, his son was soon rushed to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital after the incident for treatment and the doctor in charge had advised him to bring a certain medicine from outside as the particular medicine was not available at the time.
He said although he rushed to several private pharmacies in the area he was unable to find the medicine and due to this his son died later. According to specialist doctors in the event of a snake bite keep the area of the bite below the heart in order to slow the spread of venom through the bloodstream and cover the bite with a clean and dry bandage.
Dr.de Silva further said doctors could identify the particular serpent from the victim’s symptoms.
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