Comparison of cobra, krait, and viper venom focusing only on their venom type, mechanism, and clinical effects:
🐍 Cobra (e.g., Indian Cobra – Naja naja)
- Venom Type:
Primarily neurotoxic, with some cytotoxic effects. - Mechanism of Action:
Blocks nerve signals by binding to acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions. - Clinical Effects:
- Muscle weakness, drooping eyelids (ptosis)
- Difficulty speaking or breathing
- Local swelling, pain, and tissue damage
- Can lead to respiratory paralysis if untreated
🐍 Krait (e.g., Common Krait – Bungarus caeruleus)
- Venom Type:
Highly neurotoxic - Mechanism of Action:
Disrupts both the release and reception of acetylcholine, causing total nerve signal failure. - Clinical Effects:
- Often painless bite with delayed symptoms
- Progressive muscle paralysis, especially respiratory muscles
- Victims may die in sleep from respiratory failure
- Little or no local swelling or pain
🐍 Viper (e.g., Russell’s Viper – Daboia russelii)
- Venom Type:
Hemotoxic and cytotoxic - Mechanism of Action:
Disrupts blood clotting and damages blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding and tissue destruction. - Clinical Effects:
- Severe pain and swelling at the bite site
- Internal bleeding, low blood pressure
- Risk of acute kidney failure and shock
- May cause long-term tissue damage and disability
🧠 Summary
| Snake | Venom Type | Main Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Cobra | Neurotoxic, Cytotoxic | Respiratory paralysis, local tissue damage |
| Krait | Strongly Neurotoxic | Silent, delayed paralysis, often fatal in sleep |
| Viper | Hemotoxic, Cytotoxic | Pain, swelling, bleeding, kidney failure |
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