Brown recluse spider bite consequences. Harmless in appearance and deadly - the brown recluse spider. Black widow bite

Representatives of the genus Loxosceles from the family of brown recluse spiders are also known as reaper spiders and violin spiders, some of which are dangerous to humans. The most famous is the brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, which is one of the 3 most poisonous arthropod species in the United States. He shares “prize places” with his “brother” the Chilean hermit (Loxosceles Laeta) and. They are only more poisonous, but they do not live in North America.

Habitat

Hermit spiders are inhabitants of warm regions in the Old and New Worlds, although this is a relative concept. The areas where representatives of the genus Loxosceles live include states with continental climate. Frosts in the range of brown recluse spiders can reach -38°C.

Loxosceles Reclusa was introduced by humans to African continent and in South America. Therefore, today representatives of this species can be found on 3 continents.

On a note!

Under natural conditions, spiders hide under stones and snags. But in populated areas crawl into human houses, where they build nests in basements. You can even meet a recluse spider in the bed under the pillow if it crawls there. The brown spider Loxosceles reclusa can only bite a person in self-defense if you try to catch or pin him down.

Appearance

Color can vary even within the same species and depends on the surrounding area. The color is:

• brown;
• gray;
• dirty yellow.

There are even dark green individuals.

On a note!

The brown spider with long legs is a Chilean species of recluse.

In terms of toxicity, the “Chilean” is somewhat inferior to its brown counterpart. In many bites, the Chilean recluse was blamed unfairly, since the “culprit” was some other spider or insect. But there are claims that a “Chilean” bite leads to death in 3 out of 10 cases.

Among the “American” hermits there is a red-colored spider (loxosceles rufescens), living in Hawaii. It is also inferior in toxicity to brown.

Mediterranean

In Russia, hermits are found as having been brought along with fruits from warm countries, except Mediterranean type Loxosceles rufescens. The Mediterranean hermit is found in warm regions Russia, and also spread throughout the world with the help of humans. Arthropod of small size. It has a red-brown color. Sometimes the color of an individual of this species can be yellow-brown. Toxicity has not been confirmed.

On a note!

The brown recluse spider is often called another species belonging to the genus Coelotes from.

190 species of the genus Coelotes are distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Europe, but their bite does not pose a danger to humans. Arthropods hide in natural shelters, and it is difficult for humans to cross paths with them unless they specifically catch the animal.

Hermit lifestyle

The brown spider prefers to settle in secluded corners where it can catch small insects. But he prefers active hunting. For this reason, it often ends up in human homes. Males spend a significant part of their time hunting, leaving the web. Females prefer to hunt close to the nest. Lead night look life.

The lifespan of most species is 1.5-2 years. The brown recluse lives for 7 years.

Reproduction

Arthropods of the genus Loxosceles breed from May to July. Over 2-3 months, the female makes several cocoons with 5 eggs in each. She places them in her web. The presence of cocoons with eggs is the reason why the female can bite on her own initiative.

The spiderlings hatch 30 days after laying. Young animals reach puberty only after a year of life.

Interesting!

Brown recluses can live without water or food for about 6 months. In the laboratory, a specimen of this species existed for 5 years.

Due to global warming, scientists have expressed concerns about the expansion of Loxosceles Reclusa's range. But spiderlings of this species do not use webs to disperse through the air over long distances. Therefore, the world is threatened only by the increased density of spiders in their ancestral territory.

Consequences of a bite

What happens after a recluse spider bites depends on how effectively it hunted. That is, from the presence of poison. If the hunt was successful and the poison was used to capture the victim, the attack may go unnoticed. If the spider is hungry and has a lot of poison, the consequences of the bite can be much more severe. At large quantities poison, a necrotic ulcer forms on the affected area.

Since these spiders are often confused with other species, there is a serious discrepancy in the sensations of a person during a bite. Some people feel it like the pain of a wasp sting, but for others it goes unnoticed.

The effect of the poison appears 2-8 hours after the bite. The victim appears:

• fever;
• nausea;
• malaise.

On a note!

Further hemolysis and thrombocytopenia develop. A gangrenous scab appears at the site, which later develops into a necrotic ulcer. The size of the ulcer can reach 25 cm. Healing takes from 3 months to six months. At the site of the ulcer, a depression remains forever in the muscles.

When the body is weakened due to the occurrence internal bleeding After a bite, death is possible.

Help with a bite

First of all, you need to try to catch the object so that the doctors in the hospital can determine which serum to inject. If it is not possible to catch, ice is applied to the bite site to slow the spread of the venom. After which, or simultaneously with the search for ice, emergency assistance is called. But more often, bites either pass without consequences or go unnoticed.

Among spiders there are species that pose a considerable danger to humans. These include the recluse spider, whose bite causes severe necrotic skin lesions, in some cases resulting in death. Latin name this dangerous insect- Loxosceles reclusa. It lives in the east North America, from where it often migrates to the south and southwest of the mainland. In Europe, fortunately, the spider is not found.

The recluse spider has a wide distribution, which, in addition to its toxicity, makes meeting it dangerous for humans

Description of the insect

Outwardly, the recluse spider reminds everyone of the familiar harmless haymaker. It has a small body 5-7 mm long and long legs with a span of up to 15-20 mm. It is colored brown, dark yellow or grey colour. On the cephalothorax there is a pattern similar to a violin.

The hermit has some characteristics, distinguishing it from other spiders:

• it has only three pairs of eyes, while other species have four;
• there is no pattern on the abdomen and legs;
• the body is covered with hairs;
• the web is sticky, chaotic, without the usual radial structure.

The spider sits on a flat surface (stones, walls) with its limbs spread wide apart. Sensing danger, he takes a protective pose: the front legs are tucked in, the middle legs (pedipalps) are raised, the hind legs are apart.

The arthropod received the name “hermit” thanks to solitary lifestyle. It does not spread webs between trees or on grass. During the day, the spider hides in inaccessible dry places: under stones, snags, in crevices, in burrows of small animals, and only comes out to hunt at night.

This video explains the characteristics of the recluse spider:

It is not attached to its web and can move quite far from the nest. The brown recluse looks for other spiders and other insects, attacks them and injects poison, which instantly kills them. Spider venom is very toxic, its composition has not been fully studied.

Spiders make nests in hidden, hard-to-reach places. They spin cocoons and lay eggs in them. There are up to 40-50 eggs in one cocoon. The spider reliably guards the clutch and practically does not leave the nest until the offspring appear. As they grow, young spiders change their shell up to 8 times. The lifespan of hermits is 2−4 years, some individuals live up to 6 years.

Attack on people

Brown hermits like to settle in dry, warm, abandoned or little-visited rooms: summer houses, garages, sheds, attics, woodpiles. They sneak into them through cracks, open windows and doors. There, insects hide in secluded places: behind radiators, paintings, between furniture and walls, in old boxes.

While in its habitat, carefully inspect the area around it to avoid unfortunate incidents

Brown recluse spider not aggressive. He attacks only if he senses danger: he was crushed, stepped on, invaded the nest or disturbed the clutch. Hermits often bite people while cleaning the premises. Spiders can crawl into your bed, clothes or shoes at night. There were many cases where people were bitten right in bed or in the morning when they were getting dressed or putting on their shoes. The areas most commonly affected by bites are the arms, neck and lower abdomen.

In the United States, spider attacks on people are not uncommon. About 7,000 people are bitten each year. Quite often they lead to death.

Several years ago, the media reported an invasion of recluse spiders on a house in Missouri. Almost 6,000 small arthropods attacked people. The inhabitants of the house had to urgently leave their home.

Danger of a poisonous bite

U brown spider transparent and viscous poison. Its bite feels like a needle prick. Very often it goes unnoticed. Consequences of a bite depend on how much poison has entered the human body. There are people for whom it has practically no effect - only a small red spot remains at the wound site, which heals quickly.

Spider venom causes tissue necrosis; if left to chance, the likelihood of blood poisoning is extremely high

The majority, under the influence of the enzymes contained in the poison, develop a disease called loxoscelism. A person immediately or after 5-6 hours develops allergic reaction:

• nausea;
• sweating;
• itching, chills, discomfort.

Then, in people who are hypersensitive to the poison, a pale spot appears at the site of the bite. It deepens, increases, and dry gray-blue spots appear around. In severe cases, a gangrenous wound opens at the site of the lesion, which heals very slowly. In particularly severe cases, damage occurs internal organs, after which death occurs. This usually happens to young children and the elderly.

Help for the victim

If a bite is detected, a person must immediately provide first aid. The affected area is washed with soap and water, then ice wrapped in a clean cloth is applied to it for 10 minutes. This is done several times. The cold will prevent the poison from entering the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. If an arm or leg is injured, a splint is placed on it.

In the first minutes after a bite, it is extremely important to slow down the spread of poison throughout the victim’s body as much as possible.

For disinfection, the bite site is treated antiseptics, A the victim is given antihistamines. He needs to be sent to a medical facility as quickly as possible. It is advisable to catch the spider, place it in a jar with a ground-in lid and give it to specialists for examination.

There is no antidote for the venom of the brown recluse spider. To treat a bite, antibiotics, agents to reduce inflammation, antimicrobial and antiallergic drugs, and heparin are used. In some cases, doctors suggest surgery to stop the poison from spreading throughout the body.

The severity of the consequences will be less, the sooner the victim receives medical assistance.

Precautionary measures

When going to an unfamiliar country, you need to inquire about its poisonous animals. In places where recluse spiders are found, there are the following rules:

• bedding, clothing and shoes are inspected and shaken before use;
• wear gloves when doing housework;
• when carrying stones, firewood, timber, or when repairing the porch, be careful;
• You should not walk barefoot in rooms where spiders may be found.

Insects love to hide in cracks, furniture and old boxes. The cracks need to be sealed, boxes should be removed from the living space, cabinets and bedside tables should be locked as tightly as possible. Since brown spiders enter the house through windows and doors, use protective nets and seal the cracks. In sheds and attics, various things are not stored in wooden boxes, and in plastic containers. Firewood and lumber are kept away from the house.

Residential areas need to be cleaned regularly. Under beds, sofas and cabinets are thoroughly vacuumed. Dust containers that may contain spiders and their eggs are thrown into garbage containers. Insecticides are used for destruction. Places where poisonous creatures can live - under window sills, under baseboards, behind furniture - are sprayed with an aerosol or sprinkled with powder.

The poisonous bite of a recluse spider causes severe allergic diseases, often leading to necrosis and death.

Those affected need immediate medical attention. To prevent bites, it is important to prevent recluse spiders from settling in your home.

IN Everyday life we don't pay attention to spiders. They live their lives, and we live ours. At the same time, no one bothers each other. The only trouble lies in the cobwebs that accumulate in the corners of the room, and which have to be removed from time to time. But are spiders as harmless as they seem at first glance? For the most part, they do not pose any danger to humans, with the exception of some of their species, which include the brown recluse spider.

At first glance, he is completely harmless. This is a small, inconspicuous creature with long legs. The diameter of its body is no more than seven millimeters. The legs are slightly longer, reaching two centimeters in length. Inexplicably local residents call it the big brown spider? But let’s not rush to conclusions, because everything has its own reason.

The spider leads a solitary lifestyle and is active only at night. During the day, he hides in a secluded place, trying to remain unnoticed. That is why he was nicknamed the hermit. He does not weave any webs, and tries not to leave traces of his presence. For the nest it chooses a remote, darkened and secluded place. The main thing is that it is dry and warm there.

The body of the spider is covered with hair, dark brown or dark yellow. On the cephalothorax you can see original drawing, very similar to a violin. It is by this that the spider is identified. He has three pairs of eyes. He always protects the nest with a sticky cobweb network, with a rather chaotic pattern. When in danger, the spider takes a threatening pose. He rests on his hind legs and extends his front legs towards the attacker.

The brown recluse spider is endemic to the Americas. It can be found in the eastern regions of the United States.

The hermit spider hunts somewhat differently than its fellow tribesmen. To capture the victim, he does not weave nets, but kills him with his poison. He hunts at night. Having discovered an insect, the hermit instantly attacks it and inflicts poisonous bite. The poison acts instantly. It is incredibly toxic. This is a viscous, colorless substance that destroys cellular tissue in a matter of seconds. There is no antidote for it.

Nature gave the spider long life. He lives for about six years. To bring offspring, the female finds a secluded place, weaves a cocoon, into which she lays up to fifty eggs. Throughout incubation period she does not leave the nest and guards it vigilantly. As the spiders grow, they molt eight times. Thus, they get rid of the chitinous shell.

A person has a special relationship with a recluse spider. The spider is a frequent visitor. It's all because of warm housing, with a lot of secluded and dry corners in which you can hide. You can meet it in attics, sheds, and summer houses. Sometimes they climb into basements, enter living spaces, climb under baseboards, and hide in furniture. The spider never attacks first. He becomes aggressive only in case of danger. If you accidentally step on it, trouble cannot be avoided. The bite is painful, very unpleasant, and may well be fatal. The poison does not affect humans immediately, but after six hours. The pain intensifies, the bite site becomes inflamed, dizziness, weakness appear, and the temperature rises. After some time, an ulcer forms at the site of the bite. If medical assistance is not provided in time, tissue necrosis occurs. The treatment process is quite lengthy and takes six months. If the human body is weakened, then fatal outcome can't be avoided.

To avoid becoming a victim of a spider, you must follow the following measures security?

1. Install mosquito nets on the windows.
2. Inspect shoes and clothing every time.
3. Before you go to bed, you need to examine your bed.
4. Clean the premises using personal protective equipment (rubber gloves, boots, apron).
5. Destroy harmful insects, flies and mosquitoes that the spider preys on.

The brown recluse spider is considered one of the most poisonous spiders in the world. Scientists classify it as an arthropod arachnid of the spider order, family Sicariidae. The genus this spider belongs to is called Loxosceles.

Poisonous spiders are the most dangerous animals for us. They sneak up unnoticed and can strike what is called “in the back.” Who would want to become a victim of this eight-legged creature? There are probably few people willing!

If a person does happen to be bitten by this insidious creature, then tissue necrosis occurs at the site of the bite, which is deadly!

What does this little eight-legged monster look like?

This hermit spider is small in size. If he straightens his paws, then their span is from 6 to 20 millimeters. This deadly spider It’s not always possible to even notice it right away. Females are larger in size than males.

Body color is predominantly Brown color. But there are also yellow and gray representatives of this species. On the upper part of the cephalothorax the recluse spider has something resembling a violin.

A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of only 6 eyes, instead of 8. The abdominal part and paws are covered with small hairs.

In what part of the world can we expect this creature to attack? In other words, where does the brown recluse spider live?

The territories of his residence are considered to be: the midwestern United States. Further, the range goes south – to Gulf of Mexico. But the state of California was not included in the list of its “homes,” although representatives of arachnids similar to the brown spider live there.

Lifestyle of a recluse spider

Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal predators. Like most spiders, they weave spider webs, in which the prey is caught.

Almost the rest of the day, except at night, they sit out in secluded places - among the roots, under stones, in rodent burrows. But sometimes they become close “neighbors” of people, which is a very dangerous circumstance for the latter.

What does the insidious spider eat?

All living things that fall into his web and become food for him. Basically, its prey is insects, as well as other spiders.

Reproduction of poisonous hermits

In secluded places, away from prying eyes, the female brown recluse spider lays eggs. The eggs are located in a whitish sac, “woven” personally by the female from a web, the size of which can reach 7.5 millimeters in diameter. During one mating season, 30 to 50 eggs are laid.

Once born, young individuals undergo many molts before reaching adulthood. Each molt for a spider is a very unpleasant and even painful condition. Maybe that's why some spiders are so angry and bite so painfully?

IN natural environment Brown recluse spiders live up to two to four years.

A week later…

How to protect yourself from a recluse spider bite?

In fact, these eight-legged creatures are not aggressive at all; they themselves rarely attack without reason. But if you disturb a spider... for example, when it got into the laundry and you started cleaning... you shouldn’t expect mercy - it will bite!

Immediately after a brown spider bite, tissue necrosis occurs, that is, tissue death. Typically an adult healthy person with a strong immune system, nothing threatens you except an unpleasant wound, of course, if you consult a doctor in time. But small children and elderly people, as well as sick people, are less fortunate. Their body is not able to resist the toxins contained in the spider's venom as easily. Therefore, there have been cases of death.

Spiders (arachnids) are silent killers that, if attacked, cause the instant death of their victim. Patient and calculating arachnids (all spiders belong to this class) weave trapping, killing webs from invisible sticky threads. Up to 30 thousand species of spiders are known. They live next to humans - in houses, forests, fields, and ponds. And, of course, a spider bite is not uncommon, especially if a person is in the habitat of spiders.

All spiders are poisonous. Venom glands are located on two head appendages - chelicerae. They need poison to kill and digest their prey. The main prey is insects. Some tropical spiders have a web with a diameter of 2 m and can even interrupt the flight of a small bird. They feed on frogs, mice, small birds, fish and even their own brothers - cannibalism among spiders is quite common. Most spiders are not capable of causing significant harm to humans. Although the venom is strong, its small amount and poorly developed injection mechanism limit the number of species dangerous to humans. The only dangerous ones for people are those that can pierce the skin. The most common species include karakurt (black widow), tarantula, scorpion, hermit spider, cross spider, tarantula spider, and house spider.

spider bite the next day

Most spider bites have General characteristics, such as a small blister in the middle, swelling and swelling surrounding the bite site, and large redness in a circle. On the outer side of the bite site the redness is paler. It's important to note that a spider can only bite once, so if you have multiple bites, it's likely that it was someone else who bit someone other than a spider, or that multiple spiders bit you at once. Typical bite Spider infestation goes away within a few days and, in most cases, does not require special attention.
However, if the bite site looks different - a large bubble appears, bright redness quickly spreading to the sides, blue discoloration of large areas of the skin - these are serious signs that you need to react to immediately and contact a medical facility immediately.
In the photo you can see the differences - what a bite from a safe spider looks like and a bite that is dangerous to health.

What to do if bitten by a spider

1. First of all, don't panic! Although all spiders look scary, there are only about 12 species whose bite has a serious impact on people or animals. The two most dangerous are the black widow spider and brown recluses.
2. Check the wound. After a bite, pay attention to the site of the bite - whether there is redness, swelling and burning pain. There may be abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever, dizziness. The most dangerous reactions are difficulty breathing and shock. If there is anything more than just a bite mark, slight redness and pain, you should call ambulance or consult a doctor.
3. Spider identification - if possible and safe. Some spider bites require serious treatment, including antitoxins. If you are unable to identify the spider, this will be helpful in determining appropriate treatment. It will help a lot if you can catch the spider in a jar or box (just remember to be safe). Or at least take a photo of it and show the photo to the doctor.

First aid for a spider bite

1. To reduce blood flow in the affected area, it is necessary to secure the arm or leg with a belt or scarf - as if there was a fracture. This will prevent the poison from quickly spreading into the blood and spreading throughout the body.
2. Wash the bite with soap and water. Regardless of whether the spider is harmless or poisonous, it should be washed thoroughly as soon as possible. Even ordinary spider If bitten, it can cause infection in the wound.
3. Apply a cold compress or ice to the bite site.
4. Drink plenty of fluids - this will ensure that the poison is quickly eliminated through the kidneys.
5. Take a pain reliever - for example, analgin or ibuprofen.
6. And also an antihistamine that will reduce allergic symptoms- itching, burning, rash.

If you suspect you have been bitten poisonous spider, you can apply a tight bandage above the bite if it is on an arm or leg, making sure you do not completely cut off the circulation.

The goal is to slow the spread of the venom, not stop blood flow to the extremities. If the bite is on another part of the body, apply ice and get to a medical facility immediately. Hospitalization is required for most of these types of bites.

Recluse spider bite

One of the four spiders whose bite poses a danger to humans - recluse spider. The brown recluse is generally not aggressive and generally bites people as a means of defense mechanism, usually when a person's leg or arm accidentally gets too close.

The brown recluse has a clear fiddle pattern on its back in the midsection of its body - pictured.

The venom of the recluse spider contains powerful cytotoxins and hemolytic enzymes that destroy red blood cells. Although the sting is not usually painful at first, there is a burning sensation similar to a bee sting for the first few minutes after the sting.
A small white blister may also appear at the site of the bite.

Additional symptoms usually develop two to eight hours after a recluse spider bite. Sometimes it takes up to 12 hours until symptoms of the bite develop. Signs:

• severe pain at the site of the bite
• severe itching
• nausea
• vomit
• fever
• muscle pain

Local symptoms

Initially, you may see slight signs of redness at the site of the spider bite.

In most cases, the skin at the site of the bite then hardens and scar tissue may take several days to form. More severe local reactions also occur and can cause blistering, discoloration of the skin, and necrosis of the skin area.

Treatment

Because The reaction to a recluse spider bite can be sudden and severe; it is necessary to contact a specialist to prescribe treatment. A visit to the doctor should not be delayed until symptoms appear; see a doctor as soon as possible.
If possible, the spider should be caught and brought to a doctor or service emergency care for rate.

There are no known antivenoms for brown recluse bites, so your doctor may prescribe painkillers, antihistamines to relieve itching, or recommend icing the bite to reduce pain and swelling.

Cross spider bite

Cross - harmless to humans small creature, which lives quietly, hunting insects that fall into their nets. The sharp poisonous fangs of the spider are primarily a tool for hunting and serve to protect it from other spiders. The victim, falling into the trap, is quickly paralyzed by the poison, and then the spider devours it.
The cross spider looks quite harmless - it is distinguished by its characteristic cross pattern on its back. The color varies from green to gray, depending on the habitat. The cross is very common - it lives almost everywhere.

A human bite can only be accidental. Their teeth are not able to damage hard skin, but thinner areas of the body are not a problem. Most often, this situation can arise while walking in the forest, picking mushrooms or traveling. Cross plants grow quickly and can reach impressive sizes in late summer.

They stretch webs of webs between trees at a height human face. An inattentive mushroom picker falls into the network being laid and completely destroys it. Then the insect, willy-nilly, tries to escape or hides under clothing. IN this moment, we can accidentally crush an insect and then the spider bites.

Sometimes such situations occur during sleep. Spiders are nocturnal creatures and often move around in search of good places for hunting. A sleeping person, feeling a slight tingling sensation on his body, instinctively trying to scratch himself, crushes it, exposing himself to a bite. Erythema or swelling may occur on the body in the area of ​​the spider bite. Usually these symptoms go away on their own.

The poison of the cross does not cause any harm to humans. However, people with allergies or sensitive to spider toxins should consult a doctor.

Tarantula bite

The bite of a tarantula (Lycosa, Theraphosidae) does not pose a danger to humans, but may be accompanied by pain and swelling. After being bitten, the animal performs a defensive maneuver, while shedding hairs from its abdomen. Small hairs getting into the eyes and skin cause pain and urticarial rash. A type of tarantula is the tarantula spider.

Tarantula spider bite

There are 400 species of tarantulas of different colors. From cobalt blue to gray or dark brown, sometimes black. The tarantula reaches sizes from 9-10 to 17-23 cm, although its body is no more than 10 cm. The rest is on the legs.
Tarantulas live a very long time - from 25 to 40 years, but this depends on the gender of the spider. He is one of the most terrible spiders (outwardly) - his weight is 80 grams! The tarantula spider does not spin a web like other spiders, but pursues prey with its long legs and paralyzes it with venom. It feeds on small insects - grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and even small lizards.

Incredibly, the spider has eight eyes - two in front and two each on the left, right side and back! They usually dig holes in the ground and build a house there.

Tarantulas are poisonous, but most types of venom are not strong enough to seriously harm anyone.

A tarantula bite can be compared to a wasp or bee sting. In most cases, this is harmless, although a person who has an allergy may react like a bee sting.
IN Lately some began to keep the tarantula spider as a pet. A human bite can happen due to negligence when a spider tries to escape from a terrarium.
First aid for a tarantula bite is no different from other bites - you should consult a doctor if you have an allergy or signs of wound infection.

Karakurt bite

Karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) - a poisonous spider, lives in Moldova, Crimea, Central Asia. Females that have a pair of tubular poisonous glands located on the upper jaw are dangerous to humans. The poisonous segment (chelicerum) ends in a movable sharp claw with an opening for the duct of the poisonous gland. The female has a spherical, dense black abdomen with reddish spots. The length of the karakurt is about 10 mm.

Symptoms of poisoning with karakurt poison

After a bite, a small, quickly disappearing spot is formed. After 10-20 minutes, severe pain develops at the site of the lesion, which spreads to the abdomen, lower back, and chest. Severe mental agitation, headache, dizziness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, tachycardia, arrhythmia are observed. Severe drooling may begin. Possible respiratory arrest.

Black widow bite

The black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) of the genus Latrodectus lives in the United States. The females of this species are very large: the paw span reaches 5 cm, and the body length is 1.5 cm. There is a red hourglass pattern on the black back.

Males are smaller, with a white mark on the back, the small size of the venomous apparatus and mild aggressiveness make them practically harmless to humans. When disturbed, they fall to the ground, fold their paws and pretend to be dead. Female black widows are venomous from the moment they are born. If they are guarding eggs laid or sensing imminent danger, prefer to attack. Spiders use their venom to paralyze prey, from which they then suck the hemolymph.

The period of post-copulatory passivity of the female allows the male to escape from his partner if she is not very hungry. If the female is hungry, then after mating she eats the “wife”, which is why she is called a “widow”.

Karakurt poison - protein with molecular weight 130 000. Under the influence of poison in presynaptic membranes nerve cells Ion channels are formed through which Ca 2++ ions enter the cell. Under the influence of the toxin, exocytosis of synaptic vesicles is facilitated and the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, and acetylcholine is enhanced.

Changes in intracellular homeostasis and increased biological content in the blood active substances affect the functional state of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

In case of poisoning with karakurt poison, clinical manifestations develop within 30 minutes. The victim usually feels the sting and describes it as a "puncture". In the area of ​​the spider bite, severe pain is noted, erythema and increased local sweating gradually increase.

Karakurt bite degree

When bitten by a black widow, there are three degrees of severity of the disease.

• I degree; moderate pain at the site of the bite, no general clinical manifestations of intoxication, all laboratory parameters are normal.
• II degree: muscle pain in the bitten limb. Pain spreading to the abdomen when a leg is bitten or to the chest when an arm is bitten. Profuse sweating at the site of the bite. Vital signs are normal.
• III degree: generalized muscle pain in the back, chest, abdomen. Strong mental agitation. Headache, dizziness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, arterial hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmia. General profuse sweating. Severe drooling. Possible respiratory arrest. Blood tests show increased levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), leukocytosis, and proteinuria. In the absence of treatment, the maximum severity of symptoms lasts for 12 hours, the duration of intoxication is 48-72 hours.

in the photo on the left - the bite at the beginning, on the right - on the 3rd day

Muscle spasms and muscle tension in the anterior abdominal wall sometimes cause misdiagnosis of peritonitis and unnecessary laparoscopy.

Scorpion sting

The scorpion spider (Centruroides sculpturatus) is a poisonous spider widely distributed in the world. In Russia it lives in southern latitudes. A structural feature of the scorpion, unlike other arthropods, is the presence of pedipalps with claws; at the end of the abdomen there is a curved sharp sting where the duct of the poisonous glands opens. The most dangerous is the black scorpion, its size is 50-100 mm.

Scorpion venom binds to sodium channels in cell membranes, causing neurons to re-activate. This is accompanied by an extension of the neuronal action potential at the synapses of the autonomic nervous system, which leads to an increase in the blood levels of catecholamines, renin and aldosterone.

Symptoms of poisoning from a scorpion sting

The bite causes severe pain, which quickly spreads along the nerve trunks. The victim screams in pain, severe weakness develops, cramps of individual muscle groups occur, and the arterial pressure, the body becomes covered with cold, sticky sweat. A urticarial rash appears in the bite area. In severe cases, motor agitation develops, arterial hypertension turns into hypotension, tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, vomiting, profuse sweating, priapism, and salivation occur.

Increasing visual impairment, ptosis, involuntary contractions of the tongue muscles are noted, and speech becomes slurred. Within 2-3 hours after the poison is introduced into the body, breathing is impaired and pulmonary edema develops. Death occurs due to the phenomena of increasing acute cardiovascular and respiratory failure.

When assessing the degree of toxicity of arthropod venom, the following was noted:

Spider bite treatment

To reduce the spread of venom from the bite site throughout the body, immobilization of the limb is indicated. The pain is relieved by performing a novocaine blockade, and painkillers are administered: non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics. Cold is applied to the bite area.

Hormones, antihistamines are administered: blockers of H1 receptors (promethazine (diprazine), chloropyramine (suprastin), etc. and H2 receptors (cimetidine, ranitidine (acylok), etc., vitamins. When excited, benzodiazepines are prescribed. If a karakurt is bitten, an anti-karakurt drug is administered subcutaneously serum. In severe cases, equine immunoglobulin (IgG) is administered. The antitoxin (from horse serum) prevents the venom from binding to presynaptic membranes and remains effective even 46 hours after the bite.

When a scorpion stings, calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors are prescribed. Propranolol (anaprilin) ​​effectively and quickly stops tachyarrhythmia, but does not improve hemodynamic parameters. In case of respiratory depression, oxygen is supplied; in case of acute respiratory failure, artificial pulmonary ventilation (ALV) is performed.