Adventure Doc Spiders and Scorpions

I am afraid of spiders. Snakes don’t bother me one bit, but spiders…yuck! The two spiders you should watch out for in America are the Black Widow (lactrodectus) and the Brown Recluse (loxosceles). In 1999, there were about 2400 bites from each species. Lactrodectus did not kill anybody. Loxosceles killed two people, a six-year-old girl and a 40-year-old woman. Outside of America, the spiders only get worse.

The Black Widow (lactrodectus) can sometimes have a painless bite. About 10-60 minutes after the bite, the symptoms of abdominal cramps and muscle spasms begin. Nausea and vomiting may occur. Fever is also common. If you think you are bitten by a black widow, proceed to the ER. The treatment consists mainly of muscle relaxants for the spasms and some studies advocate the use of 10% Calcium Gluconate.

The Brown Recluse (loxosceles) bit may or not be painful. About 1-4 hours after the bite, a painful, reddish blister that is surrounded by a bluish/white halo appears. The next 3-6 days will show the blister to become necrotic (dying tissue). Healing is slow and may require surgery to remove some of the dying tissue. If you think you’ve been bitten by a Brown Recluse, go to a doctor. The treatment centers on good wound care with bandages and cleaning.

The Funnel Web spiders (Atrax species) are known to be very aggressive and will even attack/follow a human. They are Australian natives. They also have very strong neurotoxin. Pain at the bite site can be sever and may require analgesia. Cholinergic symptoms such as mouth paresthesia, sweating, salivation/drooling and diarrhea are common. Muscle cramping and spasm commonly follow a bite, as well. Hypertension is common within the first 30 minutes, followed by hypotension and apnea.

There is specific antivenin for these bites and a victim should immediately proceed for medical attention. Supportive care can include an anticholinergic such as atropine for SLUD (salivation, lacrimation, urination and diarrhea). Beta-blockers have been shown to control hypertension. At first indication of a bite, apply the pressure immobilization technique to decrease venom migration.

Banana Spiders of the Phoneutria species, found in South America, are notoriously aggressive. This very painful bite is followed by diaphoresis (sweating), hypertension, vomiting and vertigo. Death can occur in a few hours, generally from respiratory failure secondary to paralysis. Antivenin exists for these bites. The name comes from the yellowish/green color of the web, not the spider.

Tarantulas can bite, when provoked. A few species are know to have the ability to detach and fling their hairs into the skin/eyes of victims. Sever itch is generally the result and antihistamines (occasionally steroid creams) are the treatment of choice.

Scorpions don’t actually bite, but they sting with their pointed tail. People are frequently stung by scorpions, but a death is extremely rare. There hasn’t been on in 10 years. The sting is very painful. Some other symptoms of the sting may include salivation (drooling), diaphoresis (sweating), double vision, seizures, roving eye movements and tongue spasms.

The treatment consists of good wound care and bandages. Pain control is important and possible muscle relaxants for muscle spasms. Scorpions are found in the Southwestern Desert. The best way to prevent scorpion stings is to make sure to shake your shoes before you put them on. The scorpions like to get into the shoes to sleep, because it is warm. When you put your foot in, you get stung. Just dump your shoe out in the morning, before you put them on.

An interesting fact is that the potency of venom is usually related to the size of the scorpion’s pinchers. An animal with larger pinchers generally has less potent venom and is equipped with stronger pinchers to grapple and subdue its prey. The ones with smaller pinchers often have stronger venom because they lack strength to catch dinner.