User:Mr. Ibrahem/Spider bite

A spider bite is an injury resulting from the bite of a spider. Most spiders do not cause bites that are of importance as there fangs are unable to penetrate the skin. Most of the time there is only mild symptoms around the area of the bite. Onset of symptoms may occur 30 minutes to 7 days after the bite. Deaths are rare, with in the United States less than 3 per year.

The main exceptions are widow spiders and recluse spiders. Widow bites may result in latrodectism, with pain that is localized or generalized, sweating, muscle twitching, headache, and vomiting. Recluse bites may result in loxoscelism, which begins with mild pain and redness and can progress to skin death and breakdown. Headaches, vomiting, fever, and red blood cell breakdown may occur. Other significant bites include the Australian funnel-web spider and South American wandering spider. Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and seeing the spider.

Prevention include clearing clutter and the use of pesticides. Most bites are managed with supportive care such as NSAIDs for pain and antihistamines and steroid creams for itchiness. Opioids may be used if the pain is severe. While an antivenom exists for widow venom, it may result in anaphylaxis and therefore not commonly used in the United States. Antivenom for funnel web spider venom improves outcomes. Surgery may be required to repair the area of injured skin from some recluse bites.

Spider bite reports are common. They; however, may be overdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In many reports it is unclear if a bite actually occurred. In the Middle Ages, a condition where people danced wildly, known as tarantism, was claimed to be from a spider bite. While necrosis has been claims for a number of spiders, evidence only supports it in recluse bites.