Citation

Vetter RS. Crit. Care Nurs. Clin. North Am. 2013; 25(2): 205-223.

Affiliation

Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, CA 92374, USA. Electronic address: rick.vetter@ucr.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ccell.2013.02.006

PMID

23692939

Abstract

In North America, spider envenomation is perceived to be a greater threat than in actuality; however, it still is a valid source of morbidity and, very rarely, mortality. Only 2 groups (widows, recluses) are medically important on this continent. Widow bites affect the neuromuscular junction, have minor dermatologic expression, and are treated with analgesics and antivenom. Recluse bites vary from mild, self-limiting rashes to extensive dermonecrosis. Recent awareness of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a ubiquitous cause of skin injury that is often mistaken as attributable to recluse bites has questioned the credence of spiders being the cause of idiopathic wounds.

Language: en