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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Partly. Every possible venomous snake bite needs hospital care first; a doctor can help online with aftercare.
- Dangerous snakes in Europe: vipers, including the adder, which is the only venomous snake in the UK.
- First aid: keep the bitten limb still, remove rings and watches, and do not cut, suck or tie anything tightly around the bite.
- In hospital: you are usually observed for at least 24 hours, and given antivenom if the venom causes significant symptoms.
- Emergency: call 112 after a bite from a viper or a snake you could not identify, even if the bite does not seem serious.
Do not book a video appointment after a snake bite. Call 112 or go to an emergency department straight away, and do not drive yourself. Keep the bitten limb as still as possible on the way. Venom can take hours to cause symptoms, so a bite that seems minor still needs a hospital check.
Can an online doctor treat a snake bite?
Partly. A bite from a viper, or from a snake you could not identify, needs a hospital straight away, because only an examination, blood tests and observation show whether venom was injected. A doctor by video can help afterwards: checking the wound, signs of infection, tetanus and pain, and answering questions about recovery once you have left hospital.
How an online consultation helps after a snake bite
- After the hospital: Questions about the wound, the swelling and your recovery once you are home.
- Infection checked: A bite that becomes red, hot and more painful in the following days is checked for infection.
- Tetanus: Whether you need a tetanus booster after the bite.
- Late effects explained: Some effects last weeks or months, and a reaction to antivenom can appear days later.
What to do after a snake bite
Call 112, or go to the nearest emergency department, straight away. While you wait for help:
- Stay calm, and keep the bitten part of the body as still as possible. Lie in the recovery position if you can.
- Remove rings, watches, jewellery and tight clothing near the bite, in case it swells.
- Take paracetamol for pain. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, which can make bleeding worse.
- If it is safe, note the snake’s colour and pattern, or photograph it from a distance.
- Take your usual medicines with you to the hospital, and do not drive yourself.
What not to do
- Do not go near the snake, or try to catch or kill it.
- Do not cut the bite, or try to suck the venom out.
- Do not tie anything tightly around the limb.
- Do not put ice on the bite, or drink alcohol or stimulant drinks.
Which snakes in Europe are venomous?
The medically important snakes in Europe are vipers. Six species matter most: the adder, the nose-horned viper, the asp viper, Lataste’s viper, Seoane’s viper and the meadow viper.
Snakes in the UK
Three snakes live in the wild in the UK, and only one is venomous:
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| Snake | What it looks like | Venomous? |
|---|---|---|
| Adder | 60 to 80 cm, stocky, grey or reddish-brown with a dark zig-zag down its back, a V or X mark on the head and a red eye with a vertical pupil; some are completely black | Yes |
| Grass snake | Usually green, with dark spots on its sides and yellow and black bands behind the head | No |
| Smooth snake | Grey or brown, with a dark pattern that is less zig-zag than the adder’s | No |
Most snake bites in the UK are not serious and can be treated, but every bite still needs a hospital check, because it is hard to be sure which snake it was. Worldwide, snakes bite about 5.4 million people a year.
Where adders live, and when bites happen
Adders live in open, sunny places: heathland, moorland, open woodland and woodland edges, grassland, sea cliffs and other coastal areas. They rarely come into gardens. They are found across Great Britain, but not in Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isles of Scilly or the Channel Islands, and across Europe as far as the Arctic Circle.
- When: adders hibernate through the winter and come out on the first warm days of March, when they bask on logs, rocks and banks. They are active until about October.
- Spring bites: early in the season adders are sluggish and slow to move away, which is a common time for bites in people and pets.
- How bites happen: adders are shy and slip away when they can. Most bites happen when someone treads on one or picks it up.
- Protected: adders are protected by law in the UK, so leave them alone: do not try to catch, move or kill one.
Adder bites are rarely fatal in pets and even more rarely in people. If your dog is bitten, contact a vet straight away.
Snake bite symptoms and how serious they are
Some viper bites inject no venom at all, called a dry bite, but this can only be confirmed after 12 to 24 hours of observation in hospital. When venom is injected, doctors grade the bite by how far the swelling spreads and whether the whole body is affected:
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| Grade | What it means | What you may notice |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Dry bite | Bite marks, without swelling |
| 1 | Minimal | Swelling limited to the area of the bite, no other symptoms |
| 2 | Moderate | Swelling spreading along the limb, bruising or swollen glands; sometimes vomiting, diarrhoea or low blood pressure |
| 3 | Severe | Swelling spreading to the trunk, and the circulation affected |
Antivenom is used for moderate and severe bites, grades 2 and 3.
What happens in hospital after a snake bite
- Observation: you usually stay in hospital for at least 24 hours, because symptoms can develop over hours.
- The wound: the bite is cleaned and bandaged.
- Tetanus: you may be given a tetanus injection.
- Antivenom: if the snake was venomous and the bite causes significant symptoms, a medicine that neutralises the venom is given through a drip into a vein.
- Follow-up: people given antivenom need check-ups and blood tests afterwards.
Which steps might the doctor recommend after a snake bite?
The online part of care starts once the emergency is over. This is the framework the doctors use:
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| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bite from a viper or an unknown snake | Hospital assessment and observation | No | Go now, or call 112 |
| Spreading swelling, vomiting, dizziness or fainting | Emergency treatment | No | Call 112 now |
| After discharge: a swollen, bruised limb that is slowly improving | Rest, raising the limb, pain relief and follow-up | Yes | If it gets worse |
| A bite becoming red, hot and more painful days later | Checks for infection, antibiotics if infected | Yes | If redness spreads fast, or with a high temperature |
| A rash, joint pain or fever 5 to 20 days after antivenom | Assessment for a reaction to antivenom | Yes, to assess | If severe, or with breathing problems |
| No tetanus vaccination in the last 10 years | A tetanus booster | Yes, to advise | For the injection |
Questions after a snake bite and a hospital stay? A doctor can go through your recovery in one consultation.
See available times →Aftercare and treatment options
What you can do yourself
- Rest, and keep the bitten limb raised while the swelling settles.
- Keep the wound clean and dry, and watch it for signs of infection.
- Use the pain relief the hospital advised.
- Go to the follow-up check-ups and blood tests you are given, especially after antivenom.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. Antivenom is given in hospital, through a drip. After you leave hospital, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the wound becomes infected, and pain relief that suits you. Controlled painkillers are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Cutting or sucking the bite, tight bands around the limb, and ice all make things worse. Waiting to see whether symptoms develop, instead of going to a hospital, can delay treatment that is needed.
Recovery
The first effects usually settle within a few days. Swelling, pain and skin that is sore to the touch can last for many weeks, some effects last around 6 months, and rarely there are lasting problems such as scarring or stiffness. Anxiety after a bite can last a long time: say so if it is affecting you.
How to avoid snake bites
Most snake bites can be avoided with a few habits:
- Wear boots and long trousers when walking through heather, rough grass or rocky ground.
- Watch where you put your feet and hands, especially when climbing over walls or rocks.
- Never pick up, touch or try to move a snake, even one that seems dead.
- Use a torch when walking in the countryside after dark in summer.
Special situations
Pregnancy
A snake bite in pregnancy needs the same emergency care. Tell the hospital staff that you are pregnant.
Walking holidays
112 works across the EU. Know where you are, carry a charged phone, and do not walk alone in remote areas if you can avoid it. Other holiday health problems are covered on the travel illnesses page.
Long-term conditions and medicines
Tell the hospital about any medicines that thin the blood, and about heart or kidney conditions.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When a snake bite is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: aftercare once you have left hospital, wound and infection checks, tetanus advice, pain relief, and questions about recovery and late effects.
In-person care: every possible venomous snake bite, straight away, with observation for at least 24 hours, blood tests and antivenom when it is needed.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- any bite from a viper or a snake you could not identify
- swelling spreading up the limb, or bruising spreading from the bite
- vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, fainting or collapse after a bite
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a bite wound that becomes red, hot and more painful after you leave hospital
- a rash, joint pain or fever in the weeks after antivenom
- swelling or pain that is getting worse at home
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your recovery: show the bite on camera, and have your hospital discharge letter to hand, including any treatment you were given.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Recovering from a snake bite? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call. If you have an emergency sign listed on this page, call 112 instead.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Not sure this is the right page? Look up any symptom in the full symptom checker, or book and describe it to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions about snake bites
What should you do if a snake bites you?
Call 112 or go to an emergency department straight away, and do not drive yourself. Keep the bitten limb still, remove rings and watches, and take paracetamol for pain. Do not cut or suck the bite, or tie anything tightly around it.
Are adder bites dangerous?
Most adder bites are not serious and can be treated, but every bite needs a hospital check, because venom can take hours to cause symptoms. Some people need antivenom.
How do I know if a snake bite was venomous?
You cannot be sure from the bite. Some viper bites inject no venom, but this can only be confirmed after 12 to 24 hours of observation in hospital, which is why every bite needs to be seen.
Was it a snake bite or something else?
A snake bite usually shows one or two puncture marks a few millimetres apart, with pain and swelling that start quickly and spread up the limb after a viper, or only a scratch-like mark from a harmless grass snake. Insect stings leave one puncture that swells locally; horsefly bites bleed; a spider bite is tiny and slow to swell; and a thorn leaves a single wound. If you did not see the snake and the swelling is spreading, get to hospital.
What should you not do after a snake bite?
Do not go near the snake or try to catch it, do not cut or suck the bite, do not tie anything tightly around the limb, do not use ice, and do not take aspirin or ibuprofen.
How long do you stay in hospital after a snake bite?
Usually at least 24 hours after a snake bite, so that the doctors can see whether venom was injected and how far the swelling spreads, check the blood and heart, and give antivenom if it is needed; a bite with no symptoms after 24 hours is a dry bite and you go home, while a bite that needed antivenom or caused swelling of the whole limb may mean 2 to 3 days or more.
What is antivenom?
A medicine that neutralises snake venom, given through a drip in hospital for moderate and severe bites. A reaction to it, with a rash, joint pain or fever, can appear 5 to 20 days later.
Are adders poisonous?
Adders are venomous: they inject venom through a bite. Most adder bites in the UK are not serious and can be treated, and deaths are very rare, but every bite needs a hospital check, because it is hard to tell at first how much venom was injected.
Can an adder bite kill you?
Very rarely. Adder bites are rarely fatal even in pets, and more rarely still in people. Young children, older people and people who are already unwell are most at risk, which is why every bite needs a hospital check.
Where do adders live in the UK?
Adders live in open, sunny places across Great Britain, such as heathland, moorland, open woodland, grassland, sea cliffs and coastal dunes. There are no adders in Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isles of Scilly or the Channel Islands.
Which snakes in Europe are venomous?
Vipers. The medically important species include the adder, the nose-horned viper, the asp viper, Lataste’s viper, Seoane’s viper and the meadow viper. In the UK, the adder is the only venomous snake.
Why do snakes bite, and when do bites happen?
Snakes bite in self-defence, almost always when they are trodden on, picked up, cornered or disturbed while basking; most snake bites in Europe are on the hand, from handling or trying to catch or kill a snake, or on the foot or ankle from stepping on one in heathland, long grass or rocks. Bites happen from spring to early autumn, peaking in warm summer weather, and adders in particular are shy and bite only as a last resort.
How long does it take to recover from a snake bite?
After a snake bite, the swelling and pain usually settle within days, but some effects can last around 6 months. Rarely, there are lasting problems such as scarring or stiffness.
What can I do at home while recovering from a snake bite?
Keep the bitten limb raised and rested until the swelling has gone, take paracetamol rather than ibuprofen or aspirin, which can worsen bleeding after viper venom, keep the wound clean and covered, move the joints gently each day so they do not stiffen, drink plenty, and watch for fever, spreading redness or pus, which mean infection, and for bruising or bleeding elsewhere, which needs the hospital again. Recovery from a snake bite with swelling usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Can an online doctor help after a snake bite?
Partly. Every possible venomous bite needs hospital care first. After that, a doctor can check the wound, look for infection, advise on tetanus and answer questions about your recovery by video.
What does the doctor check after a snake bite, and what tests are done?
In hospital, the doctors check the bite, how far the swelling has spread, your pulse, blood pressure and breathing, and blood tests for clotting and muscle damage, and decide on antivenom. In the online aftercare consultation, the doctor checks the wound for infection, asks about tetanus cover, swelling, bruising and numbness, reviews any antivenom reaction, and plans the recovery of a limb that was swollen for days, referring you back if a snake bite is not healing as expected.
- Snake bites, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 17 July 2026.
- European viper bites: clinical management from pre-hospitalisation to follow-up, a narrative review, Esposito S et al., Journal of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, 2025.
- Snakebite envenoming: fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization, 2026.
- Adder, The Wildlife Trusts, accessed 15 October 2026.
- Adder, Froglife, accessed 15 October 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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