Bite Reactions

[count dewclaw]

Wouldn't the hives be a good indication of an allergic reaction? Also, the speed in which the body was covered in hives and blotches makes me wonder about allergies. Not all allergic reactions are as severe as an anaphylaxis type reaction. Now, that's not to say that envenomation didn't occur. It may be that both reactions are occuring together.

Those are my semi-educated thoughts having dealt with quite a few allergies in my family....

[gregmonsta]

Wouldn't the hives be a good indication of an allergic reaction?

Just as much as they can be symptomatic of systemic spread of haemotoxin but like you said it could be an indication of both.
Considering that some of the coumpounds are also found in crotalid venom ... I still vote envenomation.

The other thing to consider is what is measured as what - for example - most cat allergies are caused by the saliva deposited on the hair from grooming, you may say that the transfer of this to the point of contact and reaction may be a similar concept. (allergy being a form of poisoning)

But when you have a garter snake, with confirmed venom gland, interesting cocktail of compounds, added to grooves on the rear maxillary teeth designed to ensure prey restriction and facilitation of secretion transferrance - it is again biased towards envenomation.

Remember, some earlier accounts showed people who had reported envenomation reported having received numerous bites prior to this with no ill effects. The degree/severety of the bite seems to be a key factor in all of this

[ConcinusMan]

Or else the symptom could have been due to the reaction (or overreaction) of her immune system, rather than the toxcicity of the "venom" itself.

Sort of like bee stings can be deadly to certain people but it's not because the venom is that toxic...

Prime example happened recently I just learned. Apparently, the more times you're bitten by a viper, the more serious each successive bite can be. Instead of becoming immune to harm from the bite, the built-up immunity is what makes it more dangerous if you're bitten again. Man Dead From Snake Bite Had Allergic Reaction