@article{ref1,
title="White-tailed spider bites--arachnophobic fallout?",
journal="New Zealand medical journal",
year="2004",
author="Banks, Jonathan and Sirvid, Phil and Vink, Cor",
volume="117",
number="1188",
pages="U748-U748",
abstract="AIM: To investigate if public concern regarding the toxic effects of the bites from white-tailed spiders, Lampona cylindrata and L. murina, is reflected in the case histories of patients admitted to Christchurch Hospital with a diagnosis of spider bite. METHODS: The case histories of patients admitted to Christchurch Hospital with a diagnosis of 'contact with venomous spiders' were examined for evidence that the patients developed necrotising arachnidism. RESULTS: Ten patients were admitted to Christchurch Hospital between January 2001 and January 2003 with a diagnosis of 'contact with venomous spiders'. We found no evidence that patients developed necrotising arachnidism. No patients admitted to Christchurch Hospital required re-admission to treat sequelae of the putative spider bite. Support for a spider bite as the causative agent was not robust and alternative agents could have been the cause. CONCLUSIONS: The public's fear of bites from white-tailed spiders is likely misplaced and, if the spider was not caught in the act of biting the patient, alternative diagnoses should be considered before assuming a white-tailed spider was responsible for the patient's symptoms.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0028-8446",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}