Topic Overview
The
cottonmouth, also called a water moccasin, is a
poisonous (venomous) snake found in southeastern and south central North
America. They leave one, two, or three puncture marks on the skin, but you
won't always see any marks.
Water moccasins can be up to
6 ft (2 m) long and
have:
- Distinctive white coloring inside the
mouth.
- Pitlike depressions behind the nostrils.
- A
triangular head with slit-shaped pupils and fangs.
- A single row of
plates or scales on the undersurface of the snake, including the tail.
Symptoms of a cottonmouth bite usually appear from minutes to
hours after a bite and can include:
- Severe, immediate pain with rapid
swelling.
- Discoloration of the skin.
- Difficult or rapid
breathing.
- Changes in heart rate or rhythm.
- Metallic,
rubbery, or minty taste in the mouth.
- Numbness or tingling around
the mouth, tongue, scalp, feet, or the bite area.
- Swelling in lymph
nodes near the bite injury.
- Signs of shock.
If you think you have been bitten by a water moccasin,
call 911 or other emergency services immediately.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine, Envenomation Specialist |
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| Last Revised | June 6, 2012 |
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