Citation

Erickson TB, Cheema N. Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. 2017; 35(2): 355-375.

Affiliation

Section of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.emc.2017.01.001

PMID

28411932

Abstract

Arthropods (phylum Arthopoda) account for a higher percentage of morbidity and mortality to humans than do mammalian bites, snake bites, or marine envenomation. They are ubiquitous in domestic dwellings, caves, and campsites and in wilderness settings such as deserts, forests, and lakes. Although arthropods are most intrusive during warmer months, many are active throughout the winter, particularly indoors. Arthropods are also nocturnal and often bite unsuspecting victims while they are sleeping. Encounters with humans are generally defensive, accidental, or reactive. An individual stung by an insect or bitten by an arachnid may experience pain and local swelling, an anaphylactic reaction, or life-threatening toxicity. This review discusses the clinical presentation and latest treatment recommendations for bites and stings from spiders, scorpions, bees, ants, ticks and centipedes of North America.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Ants; Arthropods; Bees; Centipedes; Hymenoptera; Scorpions; Spiders; Ticks