title: Repeated snake bite for recreation: Mechanisms and implications.
abstract: Snake venom use for recreational purposes has been documented earlier. Willfully subjecting oneself to repeated lethal snake bite as a source of getting relieved of stress and recreation observed in two healthy software engineers, without any underlying psychiatric ailments or comorbidities along with probable mechanisms, are reported. Emergency physicians and practitioners have to be aware of novel methods of exposure to snake venom so as to recognize such cases and treat them accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Sri Gokulam Hospitals and Research Institute, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senthilkumaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Sri Gokulam Hospitals and Research Institute, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sweni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Sri Gokulam Hospitals and Research Institute, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Namasivayam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balamurugan
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research centre, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: Ritesh G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chennai Medical College and Research Center, Irungalur, Trichy, India.
authors.forename: Ponniah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thirumalaikolundusubramanian
keywords: Behavior; mental relaxation; nonpsychiatric status; recreational purpose; snake venom; software engineer; willful snake bite