Current status and future directions of diagnosis and treatment of snakebite envenoming
Jiang Xuheng
Yu Anyong
Abstract：Snakebite envenoming(SBE)represents a critical global public health challenge,with approxi-mately 1.8 million snakebite incidents occurring annually worldwide.These events resulted in over 94,000 fatalities and hundreds of thousands of permanent disabilities,imposing substantial burdens on affected families and socioeco-nomic systems.The clinical manifestations of SBE exhibit marked heterogeneity,ranging from localized tissue dam-age to life-threatening systemic toxicity,predominantly mediated by complex mixtures of proteins and enzymes in snake venom.While antivenom remains the sole specific therapeutic intervention,its clinical application is con-strained by challenges including high production costs,insufficient supply,hypersensitivity risks,and insufficient neutralization efficacy against certain venom components.Recent advancements in artificial intelligence(AI)are poised to revolutionize diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for SBE.This article comprehensively examines the clin-ical spectrum,current management approaches,and emerging research directions in SBE management.Particular emphasis is placed on the transformative potential of AI in diagnostic decision support and treatment optimization,a-longside the critical importance of developing small-molecule therapeutics targeting specific venom molecular path-ways.
Keywords：Snakebite envenomingDiagnosis and treatmentFuture directionsArtificial intelligenceSmall molecule drugs
Publication Date：2025-06-15
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 401-406 )