Banded krait mli
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banded krait Bungarus fasciatus snake envenomation
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Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus)
Fig. 32.3: Banded krait (KS Narayan Reddy's Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology)
Fig. 45.12: Banded krait (Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence)
Classification
- Family: Elapidae (same family as cobras and coral snakes)
- Scientific name: Bungarus fasciatus
- Synonyms / local names: Ahiraj, Raj sanp, Koelea krait, Sankhini (Dikshit), Bungarus fasciatus
Morphology / Identification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 - 3.5 metres (bigger and stouter than the common krait) |
| Colour | Alternate jet-black (5 cm wide) and bright yellow cross-bands all along the back |
| Neck mark | Black mark on neck spreading up to the eyes |
| Tail | Ends bluntly, swollen at the tip |
| Scales | Hexagonal scales on the back (a constant key identification feature across all krait species) |
| Belly | Entire (undivided) belly plates |
| Subcaudal scales | Entire (not divided) - like all kraits |
The hexagonal dorsal scale is the most reliable diagnostic feature across all kraits. The alternating black-and-yellow banding is what distinguishes the banded krait from the common krait (B. caeruleus), which has narrower white arches on a black background.
Distribution in India
Found mainly in:
- Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, parts of South India
- Less common than the common krait nationally
Related species in the region:
- Sind krait (B. sindanus) - Rajasthan
- Wall's Sind krait (B. sindanus walli) - Maharashtra, Bengal, UP, Bihar
- Black krait (B. niger) - North-East States, Sikkim, Bengal, Assam
Venom
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Neurotoxic (like all elapids) |
| Main toxins | Neuromuscular non-depolarizing blocking agents (curare-like effect) |
| Key enzyme | Cholinesterase - rich in cobra and krait venom; hydrolyses acetylcholine to choline + acetic acid |
| Effect | Paralysis, especially of the respiratory centre |
The venom acts as a post-synaptic neuromuscular blocker - it blocks acetylcholine receptors at the motor end-plate, producing flaccid paralysis. Unlike viper venom, there is no local tissue destruction (no necrotising/cytotoxic component).
Clinical Features of Envenomation
Because krait bites are often painless (especially at night when the victim is asleep), they are frequently underdiagnosed. Features develop over 1-4 hours:
Neurological (dominant):
- Ptosis (drooping eyelids) - often the first sign
- Diplopia, ophthalmoplegia
- Dysarthria, dysphonia, dysphagia
- Progressive descending flaccid paralysis
- Respiratory paralysis - the primary cause of death
Local features:
- Minimal or no local swelling
- Two small fang marks (distance 8 mm to 4 cm apart)
- No significant pain or necrosis (unlike viper bites)
Systemic:
- Autonomic features (less prominent than in cobra bites)
- No coagulopathy (no bleeding tendency - this is a key differentiator from vipers)
Management
- Immobilise the bitten limb; keep the patient calm
- Antivenom - Polyvalent anti-snake venom (ASV) is the specific treatment; covers B. caeruleus and B. fasciatus
- Respiratory support - most critical: mechanical ventilation if respiratory paralysis develops; this is what saves lives
- Atropine + neostigmine - may partially reverse the neuromuscular block (works better for post-synaptic blockers)
- Do NOT use tourniquet, incision, or sucking the wound
Medicolegal Significance
- The "Big 4" venomous snakes of India responsible for most snakebite deaths: Cobra, Common krait, Russell's viper, Saw-scaled viper. The banded krait is additionally important in eastern/northeastern India.
- Death from banded krait bite is respiratory failure due to paralysis of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
- Bites often occur at night while the victim is sleeping (nocturnal snake) - history of painless bite + morning paralysis should raise suspicion.
- Post-mortem findings: no specific marks; diagnosis relies on history, fang marks, and circumstantial evidence.
Sources: KS Narayan Reddy's Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (36th ed., 2026), p. 8159-8175 | PC Dikshit's Textbook of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, p. 491 | Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, p. 621
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