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The snake bites are an important health problem in Panama. Our fauna has three families of venomous snakes: Viperidae, Elapidae and Hydrophiidae, being the first the most important because it is responsible of the major number of bites in our country. The snakes venoms are composed by a number of toxins which are responsible of the physiopathological effects of the envenomation. The Viperidae's venom induce local manilestations like edema, necrosis and hemorrhage; and systemic ones as coagulopathies, shock and acute renallailure. Both families, Elapidae and Hydrophiidae are neurotoxic. The treatment is the right application of the antivenom and the management of any complication. This article is a review of the basic knowledge that every physician most have about the venemous snakes and the physiopathology and treatment of its envenomation with the objective of improve the quality of the management of patients.
