South East Asian snake's venom could also turn back puberty

London, Jan 25 (ANI): If you manage to survive the highly toxic bite of the Russell Pit Viper, there are chances you might end up developing symptoms that suggest a reversal of puberty.

According to a new study, 29 per cent of people who survived the deadly snake's venom later suffered from hypopituitarism, which results in men losing facial and pubic hair, women their curves - from weight loss - and both sexes losing their sex drive and fertility.

Apart from that, medics also reported observing a loss of mental abilities in victims, the Daily Mail reported.

The Russell Pit Viper is known for injecting huge doses of venom in its bites, with the immediate effects being pain and blisters at the site of the bite, falling blood pressure, reduced heart rate, vomiting and facial swelling.

The venom can also cause kidney failure and widespread haemorrhaging, which often affects the pituitary gland.

This gland is only the size of a pea, but it secretes hormones that help to control growth and sex organ functions.

Found throughout South East Asia, the Russell's Viper is normal fairly docile, but can become aggressive if an attempt is made to pick it up.

When threatened it forms multiple S-loops and emits a hiss that's said to be the loudest of any snake.

The study was published in The Lancet. (ANI)