MEDI7305 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Pulmonary Edema, Morphine, Gooseberry
M3b - Spider, Bug and Marine Creature Bites & Stings
Venomous Aus spider bites
Overview Spider bites are common, and most species cause minimal or no effect
Consider spider bite in differential diagnosis of unexplained autonomic and
neurological dysfunction, particularly in children
Two main situations
Funnel web spider
envenomation
Potentially lethal, medical emergency
Apply PBI
Anti-venom recommended for any degree of
envenomation
Red back spider
envenomation
Potentially very painful and distressing, but not fatal
Anti-venom recommended for patients with systemic
signs of envenomation, pain not controlled with simple analgesia or
requires repeated doses of opiates
Anti-venom reduces length of sx (can last up to ~5
days without anti-venom)
Funnel web
spiders
Species of genera Hadronyche and Atrax, family Hexathelidae
Location
Coastal eastern Australia (Tasmania, around Adelaide and Eyre Peninsula) in
areas where maximum Summer temperature isn't so high
Also found in areas of QLD, Fraser Island
Characteristics
40+ species with common features
Big (1-5cm body) and aggressive
Painful bite leaving noticeable fang marks
Venom
Excitatory neurotoxin causing continuous Ach release, overstimulating the
neuromuscular junction and eventually depleting NT reserves
Symptoms/ signs
Systemic Ab
dominal pain
Na
usea & vomiting
He
adache
Agi
tation
Neuromuscular excitation To
ngue fasciculations
Or
al paresthesia
M
uscle spasms
Autonomic excitation Hy
persalivation
Pil
oerection
Lac
rimation
Hy
pertension
Dia
phoresis
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Document Summary
M3b - spider, bug and marine creature bites & stings. Spider bites are common, and most species cause minimal or no effect. Consider spider bite in differential diagnosis of unexplained autonomic and neurological dysfunction, particularly in children. Anti-venom recommended for patients with systemic signs of envenomation, pain not controlled with simple analgesia or requires repeated doses of opiates. Anti-venom reduces length of sx (can last up to ~5 days without anti-venom) Species of genera hadronyche and atrax, family hexathelidae. Coastal eastern australia (tasmania, around adelaide and eyre peninsula) in areas where maximum summer temperature isn"t so high. Also found in areas of qld, fraser island. Excitatory neurotoxin causing continuous ach release, overstimulating the neuromuscular junction and eventually depleting nt reserves. Autonomic excitation dominal pain usea & vomiting adache tation ngue fasciculations al paresthesia uscle spasms persalivation oerection rimation pertension phoresis. Pbi + slow and calm transport to hospital. Observation for 4+ hrs (2+hrs after removing pbi)
