Spider envenomation

Howarth DM, Southee AE, Whyte IM. Lymphatic flow rates and first-aid in simulated peripheral snake or spider envenomation. Med J Australia 1994 161(11-12) 695-700. 

Phylum Arthropoda is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. Most of the species are nontoxic. However, Class Arachnida contains spiders. Arach-nidism means envenomation from a spider. Most spiders are venomous however, the black widow, brown recluse, and hobo spiders are responsible for a significant number of toxicity events in humans, so these will be discussed in more detail. 

Envenomation from a painless bite by T. agrestis may result in necrosis, similar to L. reclusa. Unlike the previous spiders discussed, male Hobo spiders are more venomous than females. Local symptoms of blistering may occur after envenomation. The blister may rupture and create a necrotic ulcer. Scarring and healing range from 1 month to 3 years. Systemic symptoms may include headache, nausea, intractable... 

Diazepam is used primarily in the treatment of mental anxiety. In addition, it acts as a muscle relaxant for a variety of medical conditions. It may also be used as a sedative-hypnotic and anticonvulsant (e.g., for status epilepticus and drug-induced seizures). Diazepam may also be used to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the following cholinesterase poisoning, substance abuse withdrawal, antihistamine overdose. Black Widow spider envenomation, and chloroquine overdose. As an anesthetic, diazepam may be used alone or in combination with other drugs for conscious sedation. 

Relative to treatment of snake, spider, scorpion, and other terrestrial animal envenomatlons, the treatment of most envenomatlons due to marine animals is rather primitive. This is primarily due to our knowledge of these venoms being less complete. The incidence of jellyfish envenomation amongst... 

Envenomation occurs subcutaneously due to the small biting apparatus of the spider. Bites occur most frequently on the extremities. 

Clark RF, Wethern-Kestner S, and Vance MV (1992) Clinical presentation and treatment of black widow spider envenomation A review of 163 cases. Annals of Emergency Medicine 21 782-787. 

Envenomation occurs subcutaneously due to the small biting apparatus of the spider. The Brown Recluse Loxosceles reclusa) spider, as its name implies, is found in secluded areas. Bites occur most frequently to the hands and arms while reaching into woodpiles or other well-protected areas. 

The bite of the Brown Recluse is usually painless and often goes unnoticed initially. The spider is seldom seen. Therefore, most patients do not seek treatment until a necrotic lesion develops. Within several hours of envenomation, local symptoms of redness and pain occur. Within 24 h, a reddish to violet colored blister becomes surrounded by a... 

Barrett SM, Romine-Jenkins M, and Campbell JP (1989) Passive hemagglutination inhibition test for diagnosis of Brown Recluse spider bite envenomation. Annals of Emergency Medicine 18 441. 

A few extremely toxic and supertoxic chemicals are listed in Table 2, along with their environmental sources and toxicity targets. Some of these are toxins found in the venoms of poisonous snakes or in the tissues of certain species of animals. Dr. Findlay Russell, who has made enormous contributions to our understanding of the nature of animal toxins, their modes of biological action, and the procedures for treating people who have been envenomed or poisoned, estimates that there are about 1200 known species of poisonous or venomous marine animals, countless numbers of venomous arthropods (spiders), and about 375 species of dangerous snakes (out of a total of about 3500 species). 

Although spiders have been associated with money, protection, beauty, and even the creation of the earth and the transport of the soul to the hereafter, they are still viewed by many as cunning, and sneaky, and evil. They often represent the unknown evil that lurks in the shadows, waiting patiently to entice, entwine, and envenom. In Anglo-Saxon, the word for spider is Attercop, which means, "poisoned head."... 

C. Muscle relaxant. These drugs can be used for relaxation of excessive muscle rigidity and contractions (eg, caused by strychnine poisoning or black widow spider envenomation or rigidity syndromes with hyperthermia or dyskinesias or tetanus). 

Dantrolene is not likely to be effective for hyperthennia caused by conditions other than muscular hyperactivity, such as increased metabolic rate (eg, salicylate or dinitrophenol poisoning), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), impaired heat dissipation (eg, anticholinergic syndrome), or environment exposure (heat stroke). However, there is anecdotal evidence (case reports or case-control studies) of benefit for the management of NMS, MAO inhibitor (phenelzine poisoning)-induced hyperthermia, muscle rigidity from baclofen withdrawal, hypertonicity from carbon monoxide poisoning, tetanus, and black widow spider envenomation. 

A. Severe pain associated with black widow spider envenomation, rattlesnake envenomation, or other bites or stings. 

Chavez-Olortegui C, Bohorquez K, Alvarenga LM, et al. (2001) Sandwich-ELISA detection of venom antigens in envenoming by Phoneutria nigriventer spider. Toxicon 39 909-911. 

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