Spider bites: Difference between revisions

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{{Bites and stings DDX}}
{{Bites and stings DDX}}


==Review Questions==
==History==  
<quiz display=simple>
* Determine circumstances of bite to assess consistency with spider habitat and behavior   
{Environmental emergencies question – Regarding black widow and brown recluse spider envenomations, which of the following is FALSE?
** Indoors vs outdoors
|type="()"}
** Day vs night 
-Black widow spiders (BWS) are found in the temperate regions of six continents and are widespread through North America, including the western United States (California included).
** Geographic location (recent travel)
-Signs and symptoms associated with BWS (e.g. diffuse pain, muscle cramps, tachycardia, and hypertension) usually develop begin within 30 to 120 minutes of the envenomation.
* Appearance of the spider if seen
-After antivenom for BWS is administered, symptoms typically resolve within 30 minutes, with complete relief within 2 hours.
* Dead spiders can be preserved in 70% EtOH and later identified by arachnologists or entomologist
+Brown recluse spider (BRS) envenomation is most common in west coast states, such as California.
||'''Harwood-Nuss – 1734-1739. Although BWS occur in Southern California, BRS are most common in the southern Midwestern states (but not California). Note that BRS have more local toxicity with eschar formation and necrosis, and these should not be debrided or excised. BRS may result in hemolysis and rhabdomyolysis. There is no antivenom available for BRS in the US, but there is one for BWS, which manifest severe life-threatening systemic signs.'''
-Most bites from BRS have a benign clinical course, but necrosis with induration and eschar formation may occur, and systemic effects, such as fever, chills, headache, malaise, arthralgia, and myalgias progress after more than 24 to 48 hours and resolve by 72 to 96 hours post bite.
</quiz>


==Clinically important spider genera by geographic region==
* North America 
** Loxosceles
** Latrodectus
** Tegenaria
* South America
** Loxosceles
** Latrodectus
** Phoneutria
* Africa
** Loxosceles
** Latrodectus
* Europe
** Loxosceles
** Latrodectus
* Australia
** Atrax
** Hadronyche
** Latrodectus 
* Asia
** Latrodectus
==Physical Exam==
* No pathognomonic signs proving lesion is a spider bite
* Assess both bite site and for systemic signs
* Bite Site
** Location
*** Spider bites more common when clothing is tight against skin
** Number of bites
*** Multiple bites suggest parasitic insect and not spider
** Appearance of bite
*** Erythema, pallor, hemorrhage, induration, tenderness, paresthesia, vesicles
* Systemic findings
** Abnormal vital signs
** [[Altered mental status]]
** [[Abdominal pain]]
** Diaphoresis
** Generalized [[rash]]
** Muscle fasciculations, spasm, or tenderness
==Treatment==
* Clean area of bite
* [[Tetanus prophylaxis]]
* Analgesics
* Hydration
* Surgical follow up if indicated for debridement of necrotic area 
* [[Antivenin]] is indicated only for specific envenomation
* No proven benefit for [[corticosteroids]]
* No indication for antibiotics unless concern for [[cellulitis]]


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Bites and Stings]]
*[[Bites and Stings]]


===Sources===
==References==
<references/>
* Boyer LV, Binford GJ, Degan JA. Spider Bites. In Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS. Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017: 993-1016.


[[Category:Environ]]
[[Category:Environmental]]
[[Category:Toxicology]]

Revision as of 16:52, 26 August 2019

Types

Differential Diagnosis

Envenomations, bites and stings

History

  • Determine circumstances of bite to assess consistency with spider habitat and behavior
    • Indoors vs outdoors
    • Day vs night
    • Geographic location (recent travel)
  • Appearance of the spider if seen
  • Dead spiders can be preserved in 70% EtOH and later identified by arachnologists or entomologist

Clinically important spider genera by geographic region

  • North America
    • Loxosceles
    • Latrodectus
    • Tegenaria
  • South America
    • Loxosceles
    • Latrodectus
    • Phoneutria
  • Africa
    • Loxosceles
    • Latrodectus
  • Europe
    • Loxosceles
    • Latrodectus
  • Australia
    • Atrax
    • Hadronyche
    • Latrodectus
  • Asia
    • Latrodectus

Physical Exam

  • No pathognomonic signs proving lesion is a spider bite
  • Assess both bite site and for systemic signs
  • Bite Site
    • Location
      • Spider bites more common when clothing is tight against skin
    • Number of bites
      • Multiple bites suggest parasitic insect and not spider
    • Appearance of bite
      • Erythema, pallor, hemorrhage, induration, tenderness, paresthesia, vesicles
  • Systemic findings

Treatment

  • Clean area of bite
  • Tetanus prophylaxis
  • Analgesics
  • Hydration
  • Surgical follow up if indicated for debridement of necrotic area
  • Antivenin is indicated only for specific envenomation
  • No proven benefit for corticosteroids
  • No indication for antibiotics unless concern for cellulitis

See Also

References

  • Boyer LV, Binford GJ, Degan JA. Spider Bites. In Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS. Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017: 993-1016.