Treatment Scorpion Bites

A black widow spider can be recognized by red hourglass on its stomach. Only the female bites, and it has a neurotoxic venom.

In the beginning pain is not severe, but severe local pain rapidly develops. The pain will slowly spread over the entire body and settle in the abdomen and legs. Abdominal cramps and progressive nausea, vomiting, and a rash may occur. Also you can expect weakness, tremors, sweating, and salivation may occur. Anaphylactic reactions can arise. Symptoms begin to regress after several hours and are usually gone in a couple days. Shock is possible. Be ready to perform CPR. Clean the bite area to reduce the risk of infection.

The funnel web spider is a large brown or gray spider found in Australia. The symptoms and treatment for its bite are as for the black widow.

The brown recluse spider is a small, light brown spider identified by a dark brown violin on its back. There is no pain, or so little that usually a victim does not notice the bite. Within a few hours a painful red area with a mottled cyanotic center appears.

Necrosis does not occur in all bites, but usually in 3 to 4 days, a star-shaped, firm area of deep purple discoloration appears at the bite site. The area will turn dark and mummified in a week or two. The margins separate and the scab falls off, leaving an open ulcer.

Secondary infection and regional swollen lymph glands usually become visible at this stage. The outstanding characteristic of a brown recluse bite is an ulcer that does not heal but persists for weeks or months. In addition to the ulcer, there is often a systemic reaction that is serious and may lead to death. Reactions (fever, chills, joint pain, vomiting, and a generalized rash) occur chiefly in children or debilitated persons.

Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders found mainly in the tropics. Most do not inject venom, but some South American species do. They have large fangs. If bitten, pain and bleeding are certain, and infection is likely. Treat a tarantula bite as for any open wound, and try to prevent infection. If symptoms of poisoning appear, treat as for the bite of the black widow spider.

Scorpions are all poisonous to a greater or lesser degree. There are two different reactions, depending on the species:

Severe local reaction only, with pain and swelling around the area of the sting. It is possible prickly sensation around the mouth and a thick-feeling tongue will occur.

Severe systemic reaction, with little or no visible local reaction. Local pain may be present. Systemic reaction includes respiratory difficulties, thick-feeling tongue, body spasms, drooling, gastric distention, double vision, blindness, involuntary rapid movement of the eyeballs, involuntary urination and defecation, and heart failure. Death is rare, occurring mainly in children and adults with high blood pressure or illnesses.

Treat scorpion stings as you would a black widow bite.

Author: Mac Ward. Check out my site and my other article on Bankruptcy Law. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mac_Ward

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