A black widow spider can be recognized by red hourglass on its
stomach. Only the female bites, and it has a neurotoxic venom. In the
beginning pain is not severe, but severe local pain rapidly develops.
The pain will slowly spread over the entire body and settle in the
abdomen and legs. Abdominal cramps and progressive nausea, vomiting, and
a rash may occur. Also you can expect weakness, tremors, sweating, and
salivation may occur. Anaphylactic reactions can arise. Symptoms begin
to regress after several hours and are usually gone in a couple days.
Shock is possible. Be ready to perform CPR. Clean the bite area to
reduce the risk of infection.
The funnel web spider is a large
brown or gray spider found in Australia. The symptoms and treatment for
its bite are as for the black widow.
The brown recluse spider is a
small, light brown spider identified by a dark brown violin on its
back. There is no pain, or so little that usually a victim does not
notice the bite. Within a few hours a painful red area with a mottled
cyanotic center appears. Necrosis does not occur in all bites, but
usually in 3 to 4 days, a star-shaped, firm area of deep purple
discoloration appears at the bite site. The area will turn dark and
mummified in a week or two. The margins separate and the scab falls off,
leaving an open ulcer. Secondary infection and regional swollen lymph
glands usually become visible at this stage. The outstanding
characteristic of a brown recluse bite is an ulcer that does not heal
but persists for weeks or months. In addition In addition to the ulcer,
there is often a systemic reaction that is serious and may lead to
death. Reactions (fever, chills, joint pain, vomiting, and a generalized
rash) occur chiefly in children or debilitated persons.
Tarantulas
are large, hairy spiders found mainly in the tropics. Most do not
inject venom, but some South American species do. They have large fangs.
If bitten, pain and bleeding are certain, and infection is likely.
Treat a tarantula bite as for any open wound, and try to prevent
infection. If symptoms of poisoning appear, treat as for the bite of the
black widow spider.
Scorpions are all poisonous to a greater or lesser degree. There are two different reactions, depending on the species:
Severe
local reaction only, with pain and swelling around the area of the
sting. It is possible prickly sensation around the mouth and a
thick-feeling tongue will occur.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Survival Tactics For Spider and Scorpion Bites
