How to use cobra serum

Everyone knows that cobra is a highly poisonous reptile. Once bitten, cobra serum must be used in time, otherwise anaphylactic shock is likely to occur, which directly threatens the patient's life. People who are bitten will experience symptoms of irritability, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, and will quickly fall into a state of severe coma. If rescue is not timely, death will occur. So let us learn about cobra serum below.

First, an allergy test must be done before injecting cobra serum, and only those with a negative result can be injected in full.

(1) Allergy test method: Take 0.1 ml of antiserum and add 1.9 ml of physiological sodium chloride injection, i.e. 20-fold dilution. Inject 0.1 ml intradermally on the palmar forearm. After 20 to 30 minutes, if the injected papule is within 2 cm and there is no redness or spider legs around the papule, it is negative and can be injected directly under close observation. If the injection site shows enlarged skin papules, redness, swelling, and infiltration, especially those resembling pseudopodia or itching, it is a positive reaction. For those suspected of positive test, pre-inject 10 mg of chlorpheniramine (reduce the dose according to weight for children), and then inject this product 15 minutes later. If the test result is positive, desensitization injection should be used.

(2) Desensitization injection method: dilute the antiserum 20 times with sodium chloride injection. Make subcutaneous injections several times, observe for 10 to 20 minutes each time, and inject 0.4 ml for the first time. If there is no response, the injection may be increased as appropriate. After more than 3 injections and observations, if there is no abnormal reaction, intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection can be performed. The preparation was warmed in a 37°C water bath for several minutes before injection. The injection speed should be slow, not exceeding 1 ml per minute at the beginning and should not exceed 4 ml thereafter. During the injection, if there is any abnormal reaction, the injection should be stopped immediately.

Second, products that are turbid after reconstitution, have precipitates that cannot be shaken off, contain foreign matter or cracks in the ampoule, or have unclear labels should not be used. Once the ampoule is opened, it should be used up immediately. Detailed records must be kept for each injection, including name, gender, age, address, number of injections, reaction after the last injection, results of the current allergy test and reaction after injection, name of the manufacturer and batch number of the antiserum used, etc. Injection equipment and injection sites should be strictly disinfected. Syringes should be used exclusively. If they cannot be used exclusively, they should be thoroughly cleaned after use and preferably sterilized by dry baking or high-pressure steam. When injecting toxoids simultaneously, the syringes must be separated.

Cobra serum is used to treat snake bites, and pit viper venom serum is also effective for bites from bamboo green snakes and iron-headed snakes. After being bitten, this product should be injected quickly, the sooner the better.