Skin reaction to bite

[dino the horse]

My spotted python bit me on the forearm a couple of days ago, he had my skin 'pinched' in his mouth rather than his mouth spread over my arm, if you can picture it. He held on and wrapped himself around only for about 30 seconds. There were the usual specks of blood but otherwise you could hardly see where he bit me.
Since then though the bite has been itchy on and off and is raised in small lumps (kind of like eczema). Has anyone else had a reaction like this to a python bite? Just wondering.

[MrSpike]

It's possible there are a few teeth in/under your skin.

[notechistiger]

Yep. I assume that it's got to do with the enzymes or bacteria that's in the snake's saliva to help digest food.

[gman78]

it could just be infected.
Have you kept it clean or has anything got in to it

[miley_take]

yeah, sounds like teeth, I just had that happen, litte raised bumps where they tag you. Because the teeth were tiny I had to get some drawing ointment to get them out

[Australis]

Originally Posted by dino the horse

Has anyone else had a reaction like this to a python bite? Just wondering.

I remember reading a few years ago an article written by someone catching a lot of
water pythons at fog dam, it was suggested in the article that something in the saliva
was responsible for causing skin irritation at bite sites.

It was published in the Australian Geographic magazine in 2002 if i recall correctly
you might be able to track it down online also.

[Stewydead]

yeah ive had the same problem, its basically your body having a rection to bacteria in bite, i have had this last week where the bite wound started to get itchy and the bumps raised up again. its a bit like a sand flies where the area can get itchy and swollen days down the track.

[dino the horse]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I wondered about a reaction to the saliva. It makes sense really. I don't think it's teeth, it doesn't hurt if I rub the bite area (wouldn't it hurt if there were teeth in there?) and yes I have kept the bite area clean.

[Ramsayi]

Yes they can and do make you itch

[Stewydead]

some people would be more sensative than others, i know myself my bites always do this

[dino the horse]

Gee I can't wait to see the reaction I have when my 8 month old bredli grows up and decides to lay one on me then!

[Slytherin]

It must be different with different pythons and different people. I was bitten by two MDs (one 6mth & one 18mths, hardly felt it ), while selecting mine, and they didnt itch after. It could be your reaction to the saliva as others have mentioned or possibly bacteria (I had enough F10 HandGel on me that my hands were still slippery...lol)