Spider bites

Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis Abdominal aneurysm, aortic dissection, pleural effusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage, superior vena cava syndrome, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, mediastinitis, fulminate mediastinal tumors pneumonia, gastroenteritis, meningitis, ecthyma, rat bite fever, spider bite, leprosy, plague, tularemia, coccidioidomycosis, diphtheria, glanders, histoplasmosis, psittacosis, typhoid fever, and rickettsial pox. 

Calcium chloride and gluconate - A6 unct /e therapy in the treatment of insect bites or stings, such as Black Widow spider bites to relieve muscle cramping sensitivity reactions, particularly when characterized by urticaria depression due to overdosage of magnesium sulfate acute symptoms of lead colic rickets osteomalacia. 

Spiders use their venom to paralyze prey while they feast on the victim s body fluids. They primarily feed on insects and other spiders. The venom of about 200 out of the 30,000 species of spiders represents a risk to humans. The venom of spiders is a complex mixture of neuroactive proteins and other chemicals. Researchers have studied venoms both to understand the mechanism of their effects and in search of new drugs. If spiders were bigger they would be truly dangerous. Fortunately they are small, with only a very small amount of venom. Because of our much larger size we receive only a small dose, but when a spider bites another insect it delivers a very large dose indeed. 

The best protection is to avoid spider bites, especially those of dangerous spiders. It is important to recognize which kinds of spiders are potentially dangerous, since most are harmless and shouldn t be killed needlessly. 

Latrodectus - widow spiders (back, brown red-legged spider) Bite - neurotoxin -large molecular proteins Localized pain, sweating, muscle cramps, decreased blood pressure... 

Loxosceles - brown or violin spiders Bite - complex mixture of enzymes Serious tissue damage and attacks blood cells... 

Peru. Decoction of the leaf with ayahuasca beverage (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) is taken orally for hallucinating effect during shamanic training. A diet of cooked plantain and smoked fish follows each use . Hot water extract of the dried flower and leaf is used externally for snake and spider bites . The Witotos and Boras used the fresh leaves as poultice over boils and infected wounds. The Tikuna men mix the crushed leaves with oil from palms as a hair dressing to prevent baldness. The Jivaros use the tobacco juice for indisposition, cold, chills, and snake bites and to treat pulmonary ailments ... 

Priapism is an abnormal, painful, and persistent erection, not related to sexual arousal, which can be caused by a variety of conditions (e.g., neurological, hematological, local trauma, and scorpion or black widow spider bites). Its occurrence also has been associated with various drugs, including the following ... 

Black widow spider bite Antivenin (Latrodectus mactans), equine One vial (6000 units) IV or IM. For persons with hypertensive cardiovascular disease or age < 16 or > 60 years. 

The diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax, likewise, is initially difficult. A history of skin contact with anthrax spores or potentially anthrax-contaminated animal products is helpful. In early stages, the skin lesion is very nonspecific, hut the later presence of a painless black eschar accompanied hy severe localized edema is essentially pathognomonic for the diagnosis. Other causes of painful lymphadenopathy such as staph, strep, plague, and tularemia may mimic cutaneous anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax lesions can also resemble the necrotic ulcerated lesions due to brown recluse spider bite. 

Holve S (1996) Treatment of snake, insect, scorpion, and spider bites in the pediatric emergency department. Current Opinion in Pediatrics 8(3) 256-260. 

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

There are some brown spiders that somewhat resemble the Brown Recluse to the layperson. Without proper identification by an entomologist, it is often not possible to immediately diagnose a Brown Recluse spider bite. Complicating the diagnosis further is the fact that there are several other species of spider (e.g., Chiracantheum species, Argiope species, and Phidippus species) that can cause a necrotic skin lesion, without systemic complications. 

These potentially severe reactions are extremely rare and the vast majority of Brown Recluse spider bites have a relatively benign progression of local symptoms and resolve with supportive care. It should be pointed out that symptoms of localized infection following a bite of any insect or spider may produce localized lesions that might be mistaken for an expanding necrotic spider bite. Cellulitis should be included on the differential diagnosis and ruled out before considering a patient with a necrotic spider bite. 

Since home identification of a Brown Recluse spider is rarely possible, a brown spider bite should be treated as any other bite of an unknown insect or spider. Management should include the application of a topical disinfectant such as 3% hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol and brief application of a cold compress for pain. Should the bite site develop increased redness and swelling or a local ulcer develop over several days, a physician should evaluate the wound to rule out infection. 

Many controversial techniques have been employed in the management of true Brown Recluse spider bites. Unfortunately, no scientific evidence exists which supports an ideal method or methods of management. However, case reports advocate a variety of therapies as potentially useful. Most agree, however, that good local management of the cutaneous lesion is the most important aspect of care. Tetanus prophylaxis should always be included. In... 

Anderson EJ (1987) Recognizing the recluse spider bite in children Necrotic arachnidism. The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society 139 33-36. 

Wright SW, Wrenn KD, and Murray L (1997) Clinical presentation and outcome of brown recluse spider bite. Annals of Emergency Medicine 30 28-32. 

Envenomation occurs subcutaneously due to the small biting apparatus of the spider. Bites occur most frequently on the extremities. Typically, the victim is bitten while dressing in clothing that has been undisturbed, when rolling over in bed onto a spider, moving stored boxes in an attic or basement or while reaching into woodpiles or other well-protected areas. 

There is no routine test for the diagnosis of trivial or cutaneous arachnidism. The use of a passive hemagglutination inhibition test has been used successfully to identify venom from Brown Recluse spider bites in animal studies. This test has not yet been used for diagnostic purposes in human trials and is not routinely available to clinicians. 

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. 

Cacy J and Mold JW (1999) The clinical characteristics of Brown Recluse spider bites treated by family physicians. Journal of Family Fractice 48(7) 536-542. 

Rees RS, Altenbern DP, Lynch JB, et al. (1985) Brown Recluse spider bites A comparison of early surgical excision versus dapsone and delayed surgical excision. Annals of Surgery 202 659. 

Yarbrough BE (1987) Current treatment of Brown Recluse spider bites. Current Concepts in Wound Care 10 4—6. 

A 10.0% solution of Ca(CgHjjOy)2 is sometimes administered intravenously in emergency treatment for black widow spider bites. 

Includes, but not limited to Brown recluse spider bite Cat-scratch disease Cellulitis... 

The hobo spider is an species with a capability of extending into new territories and adapting to many habitats. While it probably cannot adapt to extremely dry habitats, it adapts well to situations with adequate moisture and relatively cool climates. This is a non-aggressive spider, but will attack if cornered or pressed. Hobo spider poisoning does not invariably develop following a bite by a hobo spider. A large percentage of defensive bites by the hobo are dry, and no venom is injected when the spider bites. On a natural attack roll of 1 to 15, the bite is without venom. On a natural attack roll of 16 to 20, the full effect of the... 

Several toxic proteins act as neurotoxins by disrupting the activity of synapses. (A synapse is a junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle cell.) The pain, tremors, and irritability that result from black widow spider bites are caused by a-latrotoxin (125,000 D). This molecule, a single polypeptide, stimulates a massive release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). In contrast, ACh release is inhibited by botulinum toxin, a mixture of several proteins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulism, a malady most commonly caused by eating contaminated canned food, is characterized by vomiting, dizziness, and sometimes paralysis and death. A related species,... 

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