What is Antivenom?
Antivenom is a type of medicine given to stop the effects of the spider or scorpion poison. It is formed from horse blood. Most venom is absorbed completely after only 30 minutes, so antivenom must be given as soon as possible. It is given only to people who are having severe symptoms. One in 10 patients given antivenom have a severe reaction to it.
Antivenom is a substance used to treat people who have had venom injected into their bodies through the bites or stings of an animal. When this occurs, the injured party may have it administered to her, usually either through a vein, or less often, through a muscle. It works to neutralize the venom that is in the patient’s body, reducing its effects and preventing more damage. However, it cannot do anything to change the damage that has already been done. Antivenom can literally be lifesaving. Before scientists learned how to create it, many venomous bites would prove fatal. Today, death is no longer a definite result. However, death may still occur, even when antivenom is available, if it is not administered to the patient in time. Many people are most familiar with the use of snake antivenom to treat people who have been bitten by venomous snakes, such as death adders, taipan, pit vipers, and tiger snakes. However, there are antivenoms for other types of animals as well. For example,
