Rattle snake anti-venum for humans?

Question

Okay, there's this story about a little dog who saves a kid from a rattle snake. The news is reporting that your dog can get the anti-venum before you go hiking for about $100.00 otherwise it costs $500.00 if they get bite without this serium.

Okay, so the news has also talked about humans getting bite and it costing $30,000.00 for each shot. Usually, the patient requires 4-8 shots.

So, why the price difference in medicine?

Is there a human shot that can be taken before getting bite, like for the dogs?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070723/ap_on_fe_st/odd_chihuahua_rattlesnake

Answer 1

The price difference is probably because of the weight difference. These serums are usually dosed by a person's weight plus the addition of multiple shots.

Since you did say it was a "little dog," it does kinda make sense for a person to be 60x the weight of the dog (30,000/500).

Answer 2

Maybe i am just a bit jaded. Ok it probably has a lot to do with how jaded i am. But most people have health insurance. So its easy to demand a great deal of money from the insurance company. There is also a huge weight differance and that is a key component when it comes to anti venoms. The chinchila weighed what 20 lbs? a person will weigh at least 100. But I personally think that it boils down to it being for a human or for a dog. When it is for a person they will claim it takes far more research and whatnot to make sure the anti venom is safe.

Answer 3

I have never heard of rattlesnake antivenin being available to pets or people in advance of the remote possibility of being bitten. Antivenin can be dangerous even when administered properly after a bite. The expense of antivenin is because of how it is obtained. Rattlesnakes are milked by experts in highly sterile labs. It then has to undergo quite a process before being ready to ship to medical facilities. It is also not in abundant supply. Hospitals even in heavy snakebite areas sometimes have to call out to other facilities for extra antivenin. To my knowledge there is no shot that can be taken before getting bit.
Some tips for rattlesnake infested areas - Wear tall boots, watch where you step, do not reach under any logs, rocks or ledges. Never handle ANY snake, even very small ones!
Remember that rattlers are not out to get you. They are not aggressive and would rather retreat than bite. Respect them and they will leave you alone.

Answer 4

CroFab is normally used these days in place of the much less expensive antiserum used in years past. It's expensive genetically engineered stuff, but the old stuff was derived from horse serum and often more dangerous than the snake bite itself.

Answer 5

There is work in progress in an attempt to reduce the cost. The current method is refining horse blood from immunized horses to get the anti-venin. At least 1 organization is attempting to use chickens instead http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0211_030211_snakeeggs.html.