A pharmacological approach to first aid treatment for snakebite

Snakebite toxins need to be transported through the lymphatic system before gaining access to the blood. By interfering with lymphatic system function, Megan Saul et al . found that nitric oxide donors delay the fatal effects of snake venom in rats. By giving snakebite victims more time to obtain medical care, this approach may be useful for the first-aid treatment of snakebites. Snake venom toxins first transit the lymphatic system before entering the bloodstream. Ointment containing a nitric oxide donor, which impedes the intrinsic lymphatic pump, prolonged lymph transit time in rats and humans and also increased rat survival time after injection of venom. This pharmacological approach should give snakebite victims more time to obtain medical care and antivenom treatment.