Copperhead snake bite? Will it kill you?

Question

If you get bit by a Copperhead snake Will it kill you? If you dont get treated.

Answer 1

The actual copperhead bite is rarely fatal to a human. The vemon is somewhat mild compared to other venomous snakes.
The bite is,however, extremely painful and will require minor medical treatment (usually for pain and secondary infection) and there is often long term problems to the extremity that is bitten.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/copperhead.htm

While an anti-venom exists it is rarely used.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00303303

Answer 2

It's not very likely, but it can't be stated that it has never, or will never occur. I personally have been bitten 3 times by copperheads in my collection & have gotten REALLY uncomfortable & had a fair degree of localized tissue damage, but have not developed gangreen or had any really serious complications. As one of the previous posters noted, the use of anti-venom serum carries a real danger to the bite victim of a possible severe allergic reaction that could kill the patient while the bite usually won't. That poster seems to think that all anti-venoms are the same, which is not the case. There is a seperate anti-venom serum for each type of venomous snake. If you were bitten by a water moccasin, they wouldn't use copperhead anti-venom on the victim, so it really isn't a case of the doctors saving the serum for a more serious snake bite from a more venomous snake.

Answer 3

Despite what some of the "experts"(I can't help but laugh as I type that, after reading some of the responses)have told you, Copperhead bites are very RARELY fatal to humans, as these are the LEAST toxic of our North American venomous snakes. It is not even considered standard medical protocol to treat a Copperhead bite with antivenin, since antivenin is itself more likely to kill the patient than the snake bite, and it is expensive and in short supply, so doses of antivenin are reserved for genuinely life-threatening snake bites, usually involving Rattlesnakes, which are far more toxic than Copperheads. Copperheads account for the majority of venomous snake bites in the US, but the least number of problems. While medical attention is advised, many people bitten by Copperheads recover completely on their own. It's NOT a pleasant experience, by any means, and I can tell from my own personal experience; I was bitten on the ring finger of my left hand when I was nine, by a snake that I was teasing, to see if I could move faster than it could strike, like I'd seen someone do in a movie-typical dumb kid reaction. I couldn't, and I got bitten. It was very painful, and I was quite sick, like having a really bad case of the flu. My hand turned some interesting colors for a few days, and then the swelling and bruising resided. It was unpleasant, but not the worse thing I've been through. A jellyfish sting hurts a lot worse. I know quite a few snake catchers who've been bitten, and recovered completely with no medical treatment at all, though I wouldn't recommend not going to a doctor. One of the links below has some first-hand accounts of Copperhead bites, by people who deal with venomous snakes on a daily basis, and these pretty much fail to support the "experts" on here who claim that Copperheads are deadly and that you will certainly die without antivenin!

Answer 4

Depends on where you are in the world. If you re in Australia, a copperhead bite will kill you if left untreated (Down Under a copperhead is an elapid with venom toxicity equal to the Indian Cobra. In North America though a copperhead (a pit viper) will probably not kill you provided it doesn t decide to give you a full dose of venom.

Answer 5

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Even though Copperheads and Cottonmouths are of the same genus, the Cottonmouth has much more potent venom, capable of killing a human, and most certainly could kill a cat. A Copperhead probably would not be be able to kill an adult cat, though keep in mind that with many animals like dogs and cats, it's not the initial effects of the bite that are so bad, but the infection that sets in afterward. You know that cats are very prone to absesses and infections, and infection is almost always a consequence of a venomous(NO SUCH THING as a "poisonous" snake-a poison is something you have to ingest or inhale for it to hurt you)snake bite. I've seen many dogs bitten by venomous snakes, and a few cats, that all survived, but not without permanent scarring. Dogs seem to have a lot better tolerance for snake venom than either cats or humans, but even with humans, Copperhead bites are not lethal. They are the most mildy-venomous of all the native US pit vipers. I personally would never let one of my cats roam outside. Snakes are probably the least of the things that can hurt or kill a cat. If you go to some of the forums devoted to birdwatching, or reptile-keeping, or pretty much any other animals, you will see a LOT of people who absolutely hate cats with a passion, due to the destruction that cats cause to native wildlife, to gardens, etc. The state of Michigan actually had a bill in their state legistlature to declare open season on any free-roaming cats, meaning that anyone with a gun could and SHOULD have shot any cat they saw wandering outside; that's how bad the problem with cats is. Why fuel that? I love my cats, but I don't want to see them wantonly kill wild animals and birds, that they aren't even going to eat. I also do not want to risk them being hurt by dogs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, owls, kids with guns, cars, poisons, etc. Your cat will stand a far better chance of being killed by a dog, or a car, than it will of being killed by any snake. Why take that chance?

Answer 6

Most likely not. The venom isn't that potent, and even doctors hesitate to give bite victims antivenom, because allergic reactions to the antivenom are more serious than the venom itself.

It is possible that some people will have a stronger reaction to the venom, and the body size of the victim relative to the amount of venom injected, and the general health of the victim will also be factors. It's also possible to be bitten by a snake and not have any venom injected (called a dry bite).

If some would happen to get bitten, it would still be best to go to a hospital or clinic so they would be under a doctor's observation, just in case there would be complications from the bite.

Answer 7

If you don't get treatment, it very well could. It really depends on the location of the bite and how much venom was injected.
Although its a statistical fact that more people die each year from bee stings than snake bites, that's no reason to ignore a snake bite.

Answer 8

Yes, those copperheaded girls really can lay on the love bites. Ohhh! I'm sorry, you meant snakes, not redheads.

Answer 9

It sure can. A copperhead bite is very serious.

Answer 10

Yes & No, depends on wether or not it has injected venom, and it depends on the person, some people will just get a head cold while others will be in the hospital for a while.