What snake bite means?

Snakes often bite their prey when hunting, but also occasionally bite humans, usually for defensive purposes. Most snakes are non-venomous, typically killing their prey with constriction rather than venom. However, venomous snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica. First aid recommendations for bites depend on the snakes inhabiting the region, as effective treatments for bites inflicted by some species can be ineffective for others. Since the physical appearance of snakes may differ, there is often no practical way to identify a species and professional medical attention should be sought. The outcome of snake bites depends on numerous factors, including the species of snake, the area of the body bitten, the amount of venom injected, and the age of the victim. Symptoms common to all bites, such as terror and tachycardia, are psychological and caused by the victim's panic. Bites from non-venomous snakes can also cause injury, often due to lacerations caused by the snake's fangs, or from a resulting infection. A bite may also trigger an anaphylactic reaction, which is potentially fatal. The number of fatalities attributed to snake bites greatly varies by geographical area. Although deaths are relatively rare in Europe and North America, the morbidity and mortality associated with snake bites is a serious public health problem in many regions of the world, particularly in rural areas lacking medical facilities Further, while South Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa report the highest number of bites, there is also a high incidence in the Neotropics and other equatorial and subtropical regions. Each year tens of thousands of people die from snake bites, but there are a number of preventative measures people can take, such as wearing protective footwear and avoiding areas known to be inhabited by dangerous snakes.