Snakebites and accidents caused by venomous arthropods (mainly spiders, scorpions, bees, wasps and caterpillars) are important public health problem. Despite of this, public health authorities, nationally and internationally, have given little attention to this problem worldwide (Warrell, 2010; Williams et al., 2010). As a consequence, the morbidity and mortality associated with snake and arthr...

There are more than 30,000 species of spiders, most of which cannot inflict serious bites to humans because of their delicate mouthparts and impotent or prey-specific venoms. However, some spiders produce toxic venoms that can cause skin lesions, systemic illnesses, and neurotoxicity. One of the more common bites is inflicted by the widow spiders (Latrodectus species). A bite from a widow spide...

Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) are responsible for virtually all documented cases of spider bites leading to significant necrosis. The actual spider bite often goes unnoticed for as long as 4 to 6 hours, which makes diagnosis and, therefore, appropriate treatment, difficult. The spider bite generally results in either a necrotic wound or systemic symptoms that can lead to hemolysis....