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Spiders occasionally bite humans. Although 98-99% of spider bites are harmless,[1] more rarely, the symptoms of their bites can include necrotic wounds, systemic toxicity, and in some cases, death. Four genera are known to have potentially lethal bites.[2] The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ...
The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) is a coding of diseases and signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases, as classified by the World Health Organization (WHO). ...
// S00-T98 - Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-S09) Injuries to the head (S00) Superficial injury of head (S01) Open wound of head (S02) Fracture of skull and facial bones (S03) Dislocation, sprain and strain of joints and ligaments of head (S04) Injury of cranial nerves...
The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ...
The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ...
The Disease Bold textDatabase is a free website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions, symptoms, and medications. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (640x626, 74 KB) Description: {{{Chelicerae and fangs of a Black Wishbone Spider, Aname Atra, and was taken in Alice Springs, Australia}}} Source: {{{http://spiders. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (640x626, 74 KB) Description: {{{Chelicerae and fangs of a Black Wishbone Spider, Aname Atra, and was taken in Alice Springs, Australia}}} Source: {{{http://spiders. ...
Types of chelicerae: jackknife (in green), scissor (in blue) and 3-segmented chelate (in red) The Chelicerae are mouth parts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata (horseshoe crabs), and Pycnogonida (sea spiders). ...
Binomial name Aname atra (Strand, 1913) Synonyms Chenistonia atra Sungenia atra Aname diversicolor The Black wishbone spider (Aname atra) is a mygalomorph spider of South Australia. ...
Families Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Theraphosidae (tarantula) The Mygalomorphae, (also called the Orthognatha), are an infraorder of spiders. ...
For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ...
Necrosis (in Greek ÎεκÏός = Dead) is the name given to accidental death of cells and living tissue. ...
For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ...
In almost all cases of spider bite, the chief concern is the spider's venom. Spiders regarded as dangerous possess venom which is toxic to humans in the quantities which can be delivered by a single bite of a single spider at one time. Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ...
Experts on spider bites have noted that misdiagnoses of bites by both the general public and the medical community are quite common; many other conditions and diseases are confused with spider bites, sometimes preventing or delaying proper remedy, which can lead to deleterious outcome[3]. For example, there are numerous documented infectious and noninfectious conditions (including pyoderma gangrenosum, bacterial infections by Staphylococcus (including MRSA) and Streptococcus, herpes, diabetic ulcer, fungal infections, chemical burns, toxicodendron dermatitis, squamous cell carcinoma, localized vasculitis, syphilis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, sporotrichosis, and Lyme disease) that produce wounds that have been initially misdiagnosed as brown recluse spider bites by medical professionals; many of these conditions are far more common and more likely to be the source of mysterious necrotic wounds, even in areas where recluses actually occur[4]. Staphylococcus (in Greek staphyle means bunch of grapes and coccos means granule) is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. ...
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance, first to penicillin in 1947, and later to methicillin. ...
Species S. agalactiae S. bovis S. mutans S. pneumoniae S. pyogenes S. salivarius S. sanguinis S. suis Streptococcus viridans Streptococcus uberis etc. ...
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Species See text. ...
Biopsy of a highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. ...
Vasculitis (plural: vasculitides), a group of diseases featuring inflammation of the wall of blood vessels including veins (phlebitis), arteries (arteritis) and capillaries due to leukocyte migration and resultant damage. ...
Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted disease caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete. ...
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening and usually drug-induced dermatological condition that occurs more often in women than in men. ...
Sporotrichosis is a disease caused by the infection of the fungus Sporothrix schenckii (S. schenckii). ...
Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria from the genus Borrelia. ...
A brown recluse spider The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider of the family Sicariidae and the genus and species Loxosceles reclusa. ...
The use of the terms "poison" or "poisonous" in the context of spider bites is discouraged, as poison generally refers to substances which are harmful if absorbed through epithelial linings (e.g., eaten, or absorbed through the skin). The effect of eating spiders is, in general, unknown, but some spiders (such as tarantulas) are sometimes consumed as food.[5] For other uses, see Poison (disambiguation). ...
For other uses, see Tarantula (disambiguation). ...
Biology and ecology of spider bites Spiders are predatory animals that consume other animals (including other spiders) for food. For the vast majority of spider species, biting (and injection of venom) is the way the spiders subdue their prey; the spiders will use their venom to paralyze or kill their victims, often consuming them later. Spiders also use biting as a defensive mechanism, though the primary purpose of spider venom is to capture food. Image File history File linksMetadata Phidippus_audax3. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Phidippus_audax3. ...
Binomial name Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845) Synonyms Salticus variegatus Attus morsitans Attus audax Phidippus togatus Attus tripunctatus Attus fasciolatus Phidippus variegatus Phidippus smaragdifer Phidippus alchymista Phidippus rufimanus Phidippus lunulatus Phidippus dubiosus Phidippus mundulus Phidippus personatus Phidippus elegans Phidippus electus Phidippus concinnatus Phidippus morsitans Phidippus rauterbergii Phidippus mexicanus Philaeus farneus Phidippus...
This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ...
Paralysed redirects here. ...
Spider mouthparts
 This overhead drawing shows the chelicerae in black, the surface of the cephalothorax in brown, the legs in reddish brown, and the venom glands and surrounding muscle tissue in green. The fang portion of the right chelicera can be seen projecting into the space between the two chelicerae.
 The fang of this immature Psalmopoeus cambridgei spider is about 2mm long. The spider herself is about 25mm long Spiders do not have teeth. Instead, they have two chelicerae, each with two segments, the fang and the basal portion. The fang, the organic functional equivalent to a hypodermic needle, is what penetrates the skin, fur, or exoskeleton of the spider's target — spider mouthparts are primarily intended for envenoming a spider's prey in most species, typically insects and other small arthropods; not for biting humans. The basal portion includes all or part of the spider's venom glands, which can be squeezed under voluntary control by the spider to force venom out of the glands and into the wound.[6] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...
Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...
Binomial name (Villers, 1789) eggsacs Cheiracanthium punctorium, commonly known as the yellow sack spider, is a spider found from central Europe to Central Asia. ...
Image File history File links Spider_chelicerae. ...
Image File history File links Spider_chelicerae. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_60x. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_60x. ...
Types of chelicerae: jackknife (in green), scissor (in blue) and 3-segmented chelate (in red) The Chelicerae are mouth parts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata (horseshoe crabs), and Pycnogonida (sea spiders). ...
Different bevels on hypodermic needles. ...
Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera...
Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ...
The images in this section show the fang of an immature Psalmopoeus cambridgei at various levels of magnification, with various commercially available needles shown for comparison.
When a spider bites, the two parts of each chelicera come together like a folding knife, and when making a threat display or actually preparing to bite, the spider will also open the angle of the fangs with the basal portion of chelicerae and also open the angle of the basal portion with the cephalothorax. In the tarantulas and other Mygalomorphae, the horizontal separation of the tips of the fangs does not change much, but in the other spiders the tips of the fangs move apart from each other as well as elevating. In more precise, scientific terms, the bite mechanism is called either "co-axial" or "bi-axial". The Mygalomorphea (Tarantulas, Trapdoor spiders etc.) offer a co-axial bite while the Labidognatha sub order, comprising all other spiders such as Lycosids, Ctenids and most web spiders, etc. deliver the more common bi-axial bite. Families Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Theraphosidae (tarantula) The Mygalomorphae, (also called the Orthognatha), are an infraorder of spiders. ...
Even the tips of the fangs of the rather large spider shown above are quite sharp, and the spider's body is well adapted to driving the fangs into flesh. Some spider bites, such as those of the Sydney funnel-web spider, are reported to have penetrated toe nails and soft leather shoes. Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, (Atrax robustus) is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ...
 10x microphotograph of the chelicera and the tip of the smallest sewing needle available in ordinary commerce Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_&_sewing_needle. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_&_sewing_needle. ...
Types of bites Spiders have the capability to control how much venom (if any) is injected into a target, and adjust the dosage given according to circumstances. As venom costs the spider energy to produce, it is advantageous to the spider not to waste it. Spider bites are characterized as either attacking or defensive, depending on whether the spider is attempting to subdue prey, or to repel a perceived threat. When capturing prey, spiders will typically adjust the amount of venom delivered based on the size of the meal; when defending itself, a spider's only goal is to secure relief from being squeezed or otherwise injured. A bite in which little or no venom is injected is frequently referred to as a dry bite.
As spiders do not prey on humans (or other large mammals), spiders do not "attack" people. It is rare for spiders to mistake humans for prey. Almost all bites that humans receive are defensive bites, and frequently the spider drives the human off just by the mechanical pain of its bite, thus it is not unusual for humans to receive dry bites or partial envenomations. Thus, most spiders are unlikely to otherwise bite humans because they do not identify humans as prey. Some spiders (including highly venomous species like the Brazilian wandering spider) will behave aggressively towards large animals (including people) that the spider perceives as a threat. Even in those cases, however, they will first make a determined threat display and will bite only if they have no other choice. Spiders of the genus Phoneutria have extremely toxic venom and approximately ten times as much venom as other spiders that are known to produce fatalities in adult humans[7] , but serious consequences from their bites are not common, as many bites received by humans are believed to be dry or of low volume.[8] This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ...
Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ...
Species P. bahiensis P. boliviensis P. fera P. nigriventer (Brazilian wandering spider) P. reidyi Phoneutria is a genus of the wandering spider family, and of the approximately forty genera of that family it is one of the few genera that have potent enough venom to harm humans. ...
Many bites occur when a person steps on a spider, or inserts a limb into an article of clothing that the spider occupies. Even small spiders may deliver painful bites to people when pinched. For instance, Phidippus audax – a common jumping spider, which may grow to be approximately 3/8 inch (1 cm) long – is capable of inflicting a bite that is about as painful as a bee sting when pinched between the folds of a human's palm or otherwise seriously annoyed. Binomial name Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845) Synonyms Salticus variegatus Attus morsitans Attus audax Phidippus togatus Attus tripunctatus Attus fasciolatus Phidippus variegatus Phidippus smaragdifer Phidippus alchymista Phidippus rufimanus Phidippus lunulatus Phidippus dubiosus Phidippus mundulus Phidippus personatus Phidippus elegans Phidippus electus Phidippus concinnatus Phidippus morsitans Phidippus rauterbergii Phidippus mexicanus Philaeus farneus Phidippus...
Diversity 553 genera, 5025 species Subfamilies Aelurillinae Agoriinae Amycinae Ballinae Dendryphantinae Euophryinae Hasariinae Heliophaninae Hisponinae Lyssomaninae Marpissinae Myrmarachninae Pelleninae Plexippinae Salticinae Spartaeinae Synagelinae Synemosyninae See List of Salticidae genera The jumping spider family (Salticidae) contains more than 500 described genera and over 5,000 species, making it the largest family...
Spider venom The chief concern with the bite of medically significant spiders is the effect of the spider's venom. A spider envenomation occurs whenever a spider bites someone and chooses to inject venom into the wound. Not all spider bites involve injection of venom into the wound, and the amount of venom injected can vary based on the type of spider and the circumstances of the encounter. With very few exceptions, such as the so-called camel spider (which is not a true spider), the mechanical injury from a spider bite is not a serious concern for humans. Some spider bites do leave a large enough wound that infection may be a concern, and other species are known to consume prey which is already dead, which also may pose a risk for transmission of infectious bacteria from a bite. [9] However, it is generally the toxicity of spider venom which poses the most risk to human beings; several spiders are known to have venom which can be fatal to humans in the amounts that a spider will typically inject when biting. Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ...
For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ...
Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ...
Wind scorpion, Eastern Washington, USA The Camel Spider (aka wind scorpion or sun spider) is the common name for a Solpugid: a large non-spider arachnid that lives in desert regions worldwide. ...
An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. ...
Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ...
All spiders are capable of producing venom, with the exception of the hackled orb-weavers, the Holarchaeidae, and the primitive Mesothelae. (Other arachnids often confused with spiders, such as the harvestman and sun spiders, also do not produce venom). Nonetheless, only a small percentage of species have bites which pose a danger to people. Many spiders do not have mouthparts capable of penetrating human skin. While venoms are by definition toxic substances, most spiders do not have venom which is sufficiently toxic (in the quantities delivered) to require medical attention, and of those only a few are known to produce fatalities. Genera Ariston (spider) Astavakra Conifaber Daramulunia Hyptiotes Lubinella Miagrammopes Octonoba Orinomana Philoponella Polenecia Purumitra Siratoba Sybota Tangaroa Uloborus Waitkera Zosis The hackled orbweavers (family Uloboridae) have the special distinction of being non-venomous spiders. ...
Genera see text The Holarchaeidae are a spider family with only two described species in one genus. ...
The Liphistiidae are the most primitive living spiders, placed in their own suborder, called the Mesothelae. ...
The Phalangids or Opiliones (better known as harvestmen or daddy longlegs) are eight-legged invertebrate animals belonging to the order Opiliones in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda. ...
Genera Eremobates Syndaesia A Solifugid (plural form Solifugae) is an arachnid belonging to the order Solifugae. ...
Spider venoms work on one of two fundamental principles; they are either neurotoxic (attacking the nervous system), or necrotic (attacking tissues surrounding the bite, and in some cases, attacking vital organs and systems).
Neurotoxic venom The majority of spiders with serious bites possess a neurotoxic venom of some sort, though the specific manner in which the nervous system is attacked varies from spider to spider. A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. ...
The nervous system is a highly specialized network whose principal components are nerves called neurons. ...
Species Approx. ...
A latrotoxin is a variety of neurotoxin that stimulates motor and sensory neurons to release neurotransmitters. ...
Chemical structure of D-aspartic acid, a common amino acid neurotransmitter. ...
The chemical compound acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans. ...
Among quadrupeds, the respiratory system generally includes tubes, such as the bronchi, used to carry air to the lungs, where gas exchange takes place. ...
Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ...
Diversity 11 species Species see text Mouse spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena, in the mygalomorph family Actinopodidae. ...
Sodium channels are integral membrane proteins that exist in a cells plasma membrane and regulate the flow of sodium (Na+) ions into it. ...
Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ...
Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that help to establish and control the small voltage gradient that exists across the plasma membrane of all living cells (see cell potential) by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. ...
For the professional wrestling stable, see Ravens Nest#Serotonin. ...
Necrotic venom Spiders known to have necrotic venom are found in the family Sicariidae, a family which includes both the recluse spiders and the six-eyed sand spiders. Spiders in this family possess a known dermonecrotic agent sphingomyelinase D, which is otherwise found only in a few pathogenic bacteria. Some species in this family are more venomous than others; according to one study, the venom of the Chilean recluse and several species of six-eyed sand spider indigenous to southern Africa, contains an order of magnitude more of this substance than do other Sicariidae spiders such as the brown recluse[11]. Bites by spiders in this family can produce symptoms ranging from minor localized effects, to severe dermonecrotic lesions, up to and including severe systemic reactions including renal failure, and in some cases, death.[12] Even in the absence of systemic effects, serious bites from Sicariidae spiders may form a necrotising ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months and very rarely years to heal, leaving deep scars. The damaged tissue may become gangrenous and eventually slough away. Initially there may be no pain from a bite, but over time the wound may grow to as large as 10 inches (25 cm) in extreme cases. Bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours, pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite with the necrosis developing over the next few days.[13] Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells/living tissue (compare with apoptosis - programmed cell death). ...
Sicariidae are members of a genus of spiders found in arid portions of South America and southern Africa. ...
Genera Loxosceles Sicarius The recluse spiders (family Sicariidae) comprise two genera and 122 species [1], best known being the Brown recluse spider. ...
Binomial name Sicarius hahnii Walckenaer, 1847 The six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahnii) is a medium-sized spider of deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. ...
A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...
A brown recluse spider The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider of the family Sicariidae and the genus and species Loxosceles reclusa. ...
Renal failure or kidney failure is a situation in which the kidneys fail to function adequately. ...
Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Gangrene is a complication of necrosis (i. ...
Serious systemic effects may occur before this time, as the venom spreads throughout the body in minutes. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, and muscle and joint pain. Rarely more severe symptoms occur including hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.[14] Debilitated patients, the elderly, and children may be more susceptible to systemic loxoscelism. Deaths have been reported for both the brown recluse and the related South American species L. laeta and L. intermedia. For other uses, see Nausea (disambiguation). ...
Heaving redirects here. ...
An analogue medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38. ...
A rash is a change in skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. ...
{{otheruses4|1=medical hemoglobin]] into the surrounding fluid (plasma, in vivo). ...
Thrombocytopenia (or -paenia, or thrombopenia in short) is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood. ...
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. ...
Numerous other spiders have been associated with necrotic bites in the medical literature. Examples include the hobo spider and the yellow sac spider. However, the bites from these spiders are not known to produce the severe symptoms that often follow from a recluse spider bite, and the level of danger posed by each has been called into question.[15][16] So far, no known necrotoxins have been isolated from the venom of any of these spiders, and some arachnologists have disputed the accuracy of many spider identifications carried out by bite victims, family members, medical responders, and other non-experts in arachnology. There have been several studies questioning danger posed by some of these spiders. In these studies, scientists examined case studies of bites in which the spider in question was positively identified by an expert, and found that the incidence of necrotic injury diminished significantly when "questionable" identifications were excluded from the sample set. [17][18] Binomial name {Walckenaer, 1802} The hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders. ...
Binomial name Hentz, 1847 The Yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum and Chiracanthium mildei), alternately known as the black-footed spider, is not a true sac spider (of the family Clubionidae), but a long-legged sac spider, that is, a member of the family Miturgidae that was formerly classified in that...
Treatment Treatment for bites depends on the type of spider in question. Most spider bites are harmless, and will require no first aid. If you experience major discomfort and require medical treatment, and a spider was observed in the act of biting, then a spider expert may be needed to determine the species of spider that has bitten you--identification of the spider's species might determine the proper course of treatment. For this reason it is preferable to capture the spider--either alive, or in a well-preserved condition. Spiders which have been flattened, or which are allowed to desiccate or decay, may not be useful in achieving a positive identification. Most medical responders are not trained to identify spiders, and few hospitals have spider experts on staff. Contrary to media reports, it is not (in general) possible to identify the type of spider responsible for a bite solely from observed symptoms.
Unless a spider is observed in the act of biting, it should not be assumed that a spider bite has occurred (or that a wound, injury, or illness was caused by a spider). Assumption that a reported injury was caused by a spider is the most common source of false reports, which in some cases have often led to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, with potentially life-threatening consequences[19]. Many spider bites, including those by some dangerous species, are relatively painless at first and may go unnoticed if not directly observed. These bites may only be noticed later if serious symptoms appear, in such cases the spider is usually no longer present.
Treatments for more minor bites should be as for any puncture wound. The wound should first be encouraged to bleed to wash out any foreign material and debris. (Many wounds will not bleed because they are so small in diameter that they seal immediately.) Topical antiseptics such as Isodine should be applied on the off chance that the bite introduced some virus or microbe beneath the skin level and that the antiseptic can penetrate to that depth. The bite should be observed for a couple of days so that medical attention can be sought if signs of infection appear. (It is obviously difficult to get antiseptic to penetrate to the bottom of such a puncture.)[20] First aid may also involve the application of an ice pack to control inflammation, the application of aloe vera to soothe and help control the pain, and if serious symptoms appear, prompt medical care. An abscess on the skin, showing the redness and swelling characteristic of inflammation. ...
In the case of bites by widow spiders, Australian venomous funnel-web spiders, or Brazilian wandering spiders, prompt medical attention should be sought; in some cases the bites of these spiders may develop into a medical emergency. Medical attention should also be sought if a severe allergic reaction occurs.[citation needed] Species Approx. ...
Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ...
Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ...
{{Otheruses4|the medical term|the Australian television series|Medical Emergenc an immediate threat to a persons life or long term health. ...
Pancreatitus can be caused by an Allergic Reaction to a food. ...
Necrotic bites There is no established treatment for necrosis. Routine treatment should include elevation and immobilization of the affected limb, application of ice, local wound care, and tetanus prophylaxis. Many other therapies have been used with varying degrees of success including hyperbaric oxygen, dapsone, antihistamines (e.g., cyproheptadine), antibiotics, dextran, glucocorticoids, vasodilators, heparin, nitroglycerin, electric shock, curettage, surgical excision, and antivenom. None of these treatments have been subjected to controlled, randomized trials to conclusively show benefit. In almost all cases, bites are self-limited and typically heal without any medical intervention.[4] Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a higher than atmospheric pressure. ...
Dapsone is an antibiotic medication most commonly used for the treatment of Mycobacterium leprae infections (leprosy). ...
Cyproheptadine (usually as cyproheptadine hydrochloride, trade name Periactin) is an antihistaminic and antiserotonergic agent. ...
An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ...
Dextran is a complex branched polysaccharide made of many glucose molecules joined into chains of varying lengths. ...
The name glucocorticoid derives from early observations that these hormones were involved in glucose metabolism. ...
Heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant and has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule. ...
Nitroglycerin (NG), also known as nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, and glyceryl trinitrate, is a chemical compound. ...
Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a humans body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or hair. ...
In surgery, the use of a curette to remove tissue by scraping or scooping. ...
“Surgeon†redirects here. ...
Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...
Occasionally, infections of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are misdiagnosed as necrotic spider bites; this can have severe consequences as a MRSA infection is frequently a medical emergency.[21] MRSA redirects here. ...
Specific treatments Some specific courses of treatment may be indicated to deal with severe symptoms: - Dapsone is commonly used in the USA and Brazil for the treatment of necrosis. There have been conflicting reports about its efficacy and some have suggested it should no longer be used routinely, if at all.[22]
- Wound infection is rare. Antibiotics are not recommended unless there is a credible diagnosis of infection.[23]
- Studies have shown surgical intervention is ineffective and may worsen outcome. Excision may delay wound healing, cause abscesses, and lead to objectional scarring.[24]
- Anecdotal evidence suggests that application of nitroglycerin patches may be effective in treating recluse bites.[25] Recluse venom is a vasoconstrictor, and nitroglycerin causes vasodilation, allowing the venom to be diluted into the bloodstream, and fresh blood to flow to the wound. Theoretically this prevents necrosis, as vasoconstriction may contribute to necrosis. However, one scientific animal study found no benefit in preventing necrosis, with results showing it increased inflammation and it caused symptoms of systemic envenoming. The authors concluded the results of the study did not support the use of topical nitroglycerin in brown recluse envenoming.[26]
- Use of antivenom for severe spider bites is frequently indicated, especially in the case of neurotoxic venoms. Effective antivenoms exist for Latrodectus, Atrax, and Phoneutria venom. Recluse bites are now treatable by antivenom; an antivenom for Loxosceles bites is now available in South America, and it appears antivenom may be the most promising therapy. However, the recluse antivenom is most effective if given early, and because of the relatively painless bite delivered by recluses, patients do not often present until 24 or more hours after the event, possibly limiting the effect of this intervention.[27] Due to the risk of serum sickness, use of antivenom is generally not indicated unless serious symptoms are present, and/or the patient fails to respond to other forms of treatment.
Dapsone is an antibiotic medication most commonly used for the treatment of Mycobacterium leprae infections (leprosy). ...
Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic - President George W. Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...
An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ...
An abscess is a collection of pus collected in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process (usually caused by bacteria or parasites) or other foreign materials (e. ...
Anecdotal evidence is an informal account of evidence in the form of an anecdote, or hearsay. ...
Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is the pharmaceutical name for nitroglycerin. ...
The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. ...
Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...
Serum sickness is a reaction to an antiserum derived from an animal source. ...
Types of spiders with medically significant venom Spiders having medically significant venom exist in almost all parts of the world except those that are coldest. There is general agreement on which spiders give bites that may produce lasting damage or death, but not such general agreement on how one might sort spiders identified by genus and species in order of their threat to humans.
The following types of spiders are known to have medically significant bites, with symptoms ranging from localized pain all the way to severe tissue destruction and potential death. Spiders whose bite has caused fatalities which are well-documented in the scientific literature are so indicated in the section headers. Only four genera (Phoneutria, Atrax, Latrodectus, and Loxosceles) are known to have killed humans; three other genera (Hadronyche, Missulena, and Sicarius) possess venom which toxicology studies have shown have lethal potential (being similar to Atrax and Loxosceles venom in composition). There are suspected but unconfirmed deaths reported in the literature from species in Tegenaria and Haplopelma. Pain redirects here. ...
Biological tissue is a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism. ...
For other uses, see Death (disambiguation). ...
Species P. bahiensis P. boliviensis P. fera P. nigriventer (Brazilian wandering spider) P. reidyi Phoneutria is a genus of the wandering spider family, and of the approximately forty genera of that family it is one of the few genera that have potent enough venom to harm humans. ...
Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are very dangerous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ...
The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ...
This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...
Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ...
Diversity 11 species Species see text Mouse spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena, in the mygalomorph family Actinopodidae. ...
Sicarius is a word derived from latin used in a number of contexts: A sicarius was the perpetrator of a type of violent crime under Roman law. ...
Diversity 101 species Species T. agrestis T. atrica T. domestica T. duellica (gigantea) T. ferruginea T. parietina T. silvestris many others The genus Tegenaria has several famous members, including the notorious hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis), the domestic house spider (Tegenaria domestica) and the giant house spider (Tegenaria duellica). ...
Species See article Haplopelma is a genus of old-world tarantulas which are found in Southeast Asia. ...
Brazilian wandering spiders (Phoneutria--confirmed deaths) -
The Brazilian wandering spider (a ctenid spider) is a large, brown spider rather like a North American Wolf spider in appearance. However, it has a highly toxic venom (one of the most neurologically active), and is regarded (along with the Australian venomous funnel-web spiders below) as among the most dangerous spiders in the world.[28] It, like several other more harmless spiders, may hitch a ride in clusters of bananas. As a result, any large spider appearing in a bunch of bananas should be treated with due care. Oddly, many of the bites of this species are alleged to be dry bites (in which no venom is released), but because of the margin of error when identifying the precise subspecies involved (assuming the spider body is saved or captured), this claim is not definitive. In either case, the bite is at minimum mechanically painful due to the large size of the chelicerae (fangs), and the high levels of serotonin contained in the venom. The bite can be one of the most excruciating of all spider envenomations. The spiders are as large as some small tarantulas and, as already mentioned, have fairly long fangs. While venom from either spider can be deadly to children and the infirm, since the development of antivenom to the venoms of both were developed (the funnel web spider in the mid-1980s and the wandering spider in 1996[citation needed]), no human deaths from their bites have been recorded. Nevertheless, any large spider which makes a threat display (raising front legs, rearing back to display fangs) when encountered should be treated with caution - especially in areas where this type of spiders may be present. Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ...
Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ...
Diversity 107 genera, 2320 species Genera Adelocosa Alopecosa Arctosa Geolycosa Hogna Lycosa Pardosa Pirata Sosippus Trochosa many more Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, so named because their method of hunting is to run down their prey. ...
Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
For the professional wrestling stable, see Ravens Nest#Serotonin. ...
Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...
This spider's venom has also been found to cause increased levels of Nitric Oxide, which, in male human victims, will result in an involuntary erection that can be very painful and last hours. Scientists are attempting to create an erectile dysfunction treatment that can be combined with other medicines out of the peptide that causes this reaction.
Australian venomous funnel-web spiders (Atrax, Hadronyche--confirmed deaths) -
 Atrax robustus Sydney Funnel-web Spider The Australian venomous funnel-web spiders, such as the Sydney funnel-web spider (a mygalomorph only distantly related to the araneomorph funnel-web spiders) frequently bite people and are regarded as among the most dangerous in the world. They are quite aggressive spiders, and are prone to biting when confronted, rather than running away. The Sydney funnel-web spider, a large, bulky, black spider, is restricted to a relatively small area around Sydney, Australia. Its venom contains a compound known as robustotoxin which is highly toxic to primates. Unlike the Brazilian wandering spider, which is alleged to occasionally deliver dry bites, these spiders typically deliver a full envenomation when they bite. Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ...
Download high resolution version (1600x1391, 438 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
Download high resolution version (1600x1391, 438 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
Families Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Theraphosidae (tarantula) Source: Platnick 2003 The Mygalomorphae, previously called the Orthognatha, are a suborder of spiders. ...
The Araneomorphae, previously called the Labidognatha, are a suborder of spiders. ...
This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ...
 Range of the two genera (Hadronyche and Atrax) of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders There are other dangerous species of Atrax and Hadronyche related to this spider in surrounding parts of Australia, including Tasmania. The males in this case have somewhat more potent venom than females and they also wander, making them more likely to be encountered in summer. Image File history File links Sketch_Funnel-Web_range. ...
Image File history File links Sketch_Funnel-Web_range. ...
One other genus in the Hexathelidae family has been reported to cause severe symptoms in humans. The genus Macrothele in Taiwan has been attributed to severe bites, but no fatalities.[29] There are no known deaths attributed in the literature to any funnel-web species other than A. robustus Genera Atrax Hadronyche The venomous funnel-web tarantulas (family Hexathelidae) are notorious for the inclusion of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). ...
Diversity 26 species Type species Mygale calpeiana Walckenaer, 1805 Species See text. ...
Tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae) Two genera of the tangle web spiders have venom which is known to be medically significant. One genus, the widow spiders of genus Latrodectus, has caused more human fatalities than any other. The other genus, the false widow spiders of Steatoda, has a far less serious bite. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Cobweb habitude spiders. ...
Species Approx. ...
Widow spiders (Latrodectus--confirmed deaths) -
Main article: Widow spider The widow spiders (genus Latrodectus), such as the black widow and redback spider, are spiders that carry a neurotoxic venom [1] which can cause a set of symptoms known as Latrodectism. Like many spiders, widows have very poor vision, and they move with difficulty when not on their web. Widow spiders are large, strong-looking house spiders (but still have relatively spindly legs and deep, globular abdomens). The abdomen is dark and shiny, and has one or several red spots, either above or below. The spots may take the form of an hourglass, or two triangles, point-to-point. Male widows, like most spiders, are much smaller than the females, and may have a variety of streaks and spots on a browner, less globular abdomen. The males are generally considered to be much less dangerous (if at all) than the females. Widows tend to be quite non-aggressive, but will bite if the web is disturbed and the spider feels threatened. The venom, although rarely life-threatening, produces very painful effects including muscle spasms and 'tetanus-like' contractions. A serious bite will often require a short hospital stay. Children, elderly, and ill individuals are at most risk of serious effects. Species Approx. ...
The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ...
Species Fabricius, 1775 Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 Walckenaer, 1837 The black widow spider () is a spider notorious for its neurotoxic venom. ...
Binomial name Latrodectus hasselti The red-back spider (Lactrodectus hasselti) is a potentially dangerous spider now found throughout Australia. ...
The term neurotoxic is used to describe a substance, condition or state that damages the nervous system and / or brain, usually by killing neurons. ...
It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ...
Latrodectism is the clinical syndrome caused by a neurotoxic venom that can be injected by the bite of any spider that is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus, in the family Theridiidae. ...
False black widows (Steatoda) -
The False black widow spiders (also known as false katipo, false button spider, cupboard spider, and in Australia, brown house spider) are spiders of the genus Steatoda. They resemble widow spiders in size and physical form, which is not surprising since they are members of the same Family. While the bite of Steatoda spiders are nowhere near as serious as that of true widow spiders, several of these spiders do have medically significant bites. The bite of Steatoda grossa, commonly known as the cupboard spider, is known to cause symptoms which have been described as a very minor widow bite; the medical community now refers to the symptoms of Steatoda bites as steatodism. Other spiders in this genus known to be problem biters include two chiefly European varieties, S. paykulliana and S. nobilis, and a species found mainly in New Zealand and South Africa, S. capensis Diversity 122 species Species S. grossa S. nobilis S. triangulosa many more The spider genus Steatoda, in the family Theridiidae, includes over 120 recognized species, distributed around the world (including many cosmopolitan species which are found among human populations worldwide). ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1350x1050, 176 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Steatoda Spider bite Cobweb habitude spiders ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1350x1050, 176 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Steatoda Spider bite Cobweb habitude spiders ...
Species Approx. ...
Binomial name Steadoda grossa C. L. Koch, 1838 Approx. ...
Binomial name Steatoda nobilis Thorell, 1875 Steatoda nobilis, commonly known in England as the biting spider or the false black widow (though several other species are known by the latter name), is a common species of spider in the genus Steatoda. ...
Use of widow spider antivenom has been shown effective in treating steatodism.[30] The genera Steatoda and Latrodectus are biologically close cousins; both belong to the family Theridiidae. There are over 100 species in this genus, but only several species have been associated with medically significant bites. Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...
Genera Latrodectus Argyrodes Theridion Steatoda The tangle-web spiders or comb-footed spiders (family Theridiidae) are a large group (over 2000 species in nearly 80 genera) of haphazard web-builders found throughout the world. ...
Members of this genus are characterized by the "D" shape of the cephalothorax, and the way the relatively straight line thus formed is mirrored by the blunt forward surface of the abdomen.They look something like this: Ə Other genera in this family generally have cephalothoraxes that are more oval in shape or even rather round, and that give the appearance of two body parts that are joined by a small connector.
Sicariidae spiders The family Sicariidae includes two genera, both of which have highly dangerous and necrotoxic bites. One genus, Loxosceles, are the well-known recluse spiders, a genus which is distributed worldwide (but is most commonly found in the Americas). The other genus, Sicarius, is far less known; being found only in the Southern Hemisphere. Spiders in both genera have venom containing the dermonecrotic compound sphingomyelinase D. Sicariidae are members of a genus of spiders found in arid portions of South America and southern Africa. ...
Recluse spiders (Loxosceles--confirmed deaths) -
Main article: Recluse spider Recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.), such as the brown recluse spider, also known as "violin spiders" or "fiddlers" from the dark violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax, are slow-moving, retiring spiders which wander about in dim areas and under things, and so are more easily trapped against one's skin by clothing, bed sheets, etc. The spiders will often creep along at a very slow pace and then make a sudden dart for a couple of inches, then return to the previous languid pace. Recluses are extremely venomous. Most encounters with this spider occur from moving boxes or rooting about in closets or under beds. The range of the brown recluse, L. reclusa in the US is approximately the southern 2/3 of the country by the eastern 3/4 of the country. A number of related recluse spiders (some non-native introductions) are found in southern California and nearby areas, as well. Genera Loxosceles Sicarius The recluse spiders (family Sicariidae) comprise two genera and 122 species [1], best known being the Brown recluse spider. ...
Binomial name Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is a well-known member of the family Sicariidae (formerly placed in a family Loxoscelidae). It is usually between 6–20 mm (¼ in and ¾ in) but may grow larger. ...
Most recluse spider bites are minor with little or no necrosis. However, a small number of bites produce severe dermonecrotic lesions, and, sometimes, severe systemic symptoms, including organ damage. Rarely the bite may also produce the systemic condition with occasional fatalities. Necrosis (in Greek ÎεκÏός = Dead) is the name given to accidental death of cells and living tissue. ...
A minority of bites form a necrotizing ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months and, on very rare occasions, years to heal, leaving deep scars. The damaged tissue will become gangrenous and eventually slough away. The initial bite frequently cannot be felt and there may be no pain, but over time the wound may grow to as large as 10 inches (25 cm) in extreme cases. Bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours, pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite with the necrosis developing over the next few days.[13] Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Gangrene is a complication of necrosis (i. ...
Serious systemic effects may occur before this time, as the venom spreads throughout the body in minutes. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, and muscle and joint pain. Rarely more severe symptoms occur including hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.[14] Debilitated patients, the elderly, and children may be more susceptible to systemic loxoscelism. Deaths have been reported for both the brown recluse and the related South American species L. laeta and L. intermedia. For other uses, see Nausea (disambiguation). ...
Heaving redirects here. ...
An analogue medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38. ...
A rash is a change in skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. ...
{{otheruses4|1=medical hemoglobin]] into the surrounding fluid (plasma, in vivo). ...
Thrombocytopenia (or -paenia, or thrombopenia in short) is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood. ...
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. ...
Even more dangerous is the Chilean recluse, a species native to South America and found in many parts of the world, including in southern California and other southwestern states. Bites of this spider have been known to cause systemic reactions in 15% of reported cases, and fatalities in 3-4% of cases. [31] Binomial name Loxosceles laeta (Nicolet, 1849) The Chilean recluse spider is a venomous spider, Loxosceles laeta, of the family Sicariidae (formerly of the family Loxoscelidae). ...
South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...
Six eyed sand spiders (Sicarius) -
The six-eyed sand spider, of southern Africa (and other spiders in the genus Sicarius), is considered by some to be the world's most venomous spider. Assays of its venom have led some to consider this spider's bite as the most dangerous on record; and currently no antivenom exists for its bite. Fortunately, this specimen rarely interacts with humans, and is seldom known to bite; recorded envenomations by this spider are rare. A cousin of the recluse spider (and possessing the same toxic compound as found in recluse venom), this spider buries itself in the sand and strikes from ambush at prey that wanders too closely. Sand particles adhere to cuticles on its abdomen, thus acting as a natural camouflage if uncovered. If disturbed, it will run a short distance and bury itself again. Binomial name Sicarius hahnii Walckenaer, 1847 The six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahnii) is a medium-sized spider of deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. ...
Image File history File links Six-eyed_sand_spider_4. ...
Image File history File links Six-eyed_sand_spider_4. ...
A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...
Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...
Genera Loxosceles Sicarius The recluse spiders (family Sicariidae) comprise two genera and 122 species [1], best known being the Brown recluse spider. ...
Little is known about the bite of other Sicarius species; however numerous other species have also been found to possess venom containing sphingomyelinase D.
Mouse spiders (Missulena) -
Main article: mouse spider The mouse spiders of the genus Missulena are a type of primitive burrowing spider found primarily in Australia. Several species of this genus are known to possess a venom which contains compounds similar to robustotoxin</ |
