Nāga
I decided to look up Nāga because I had read a story that involved these people (I included that story in my Storybook Favorites). The story did not tell me very much about who these people actually are. These snake-like people show up in the epic Mahabharata. The stories of these people show up frequently in the stories and traditions in Hindu regions.
Indian Cobra
In the etymology (study of the origin of words and how the meaning of the word has changed over time) section of the Wikipedia page about the Nāga people, the word Nāga in Sanskrit is the Indian cobra (naja naja). I decided to look at the Indian Cobra because I wanted to see what was special about that species. This species is one of four that bites the most people in India. The bite of the Indian Cobra can lead to paralyzed muscles and even respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.
Polyvalent Serum (Anti-venom)
I decided to go to the polyvalent serum page because I wasn't sure what that was. I had a suspicion that it meant anti-venom or something similar. Specifically a polyvalent serum can help treat a bite by more than one species. I am going to attend pharmacy school so things like this always peak my interest; I wanted to know how it works.
Anaphylaxis
I read on the anti-venom page about how people can have bad reactions to anti-venoms. I saw the word anaphylaxis and was curious what that was. I found out it is a serious allergic reaction that happens rapidly. It can cause rashes, throat/tongue swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, etc. People can get this from insect bites, foods, medications, and more.
Angioedema, Wikipedia
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