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Side Effects of Black Widow Antivenin

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:32:51 +0000

In the world of dangerous spider bites, black widows are about as dangerous as it gets. For this reason, black widows antivenin was created. The venom of a black widow spider bite can have various effects upon the human body. These effects vary based upon a number of determining factors. In the more serious Black widow envenomations, black widow antivenin may be used to help combat the effects of the venom. Occasionally, the black widow antivenin reacts badly with the individual.

To limit the side effects of black widow antivenin, the patient should consider the following:

If they have had reactions to black widow antivenin before, they should tell the doctor.
If they have any serious allergies, they should tell the doctor.
If they are pregnant, then the doctor should know right away.
If they are using any other types of medicines, the doctor needs to know.
If they are breastfeeding, they should tell the doctor.

Assuming that these things are considered, and that the patient shows no other problems with black widow antivenin consideration, then black widow antivenin may be given as a rule.

Some more benign symptoms of black widow antivenin include:

Fever
Joint Pain
Aching Muscles
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Rashes

More serious symptoms of black widow antivenin include:

Trouble Breathing or Swallowing
Itching in the Hands or Feet
Ears Becoming Red
Swelling Anywhere above the Neck
Sudden Weakness

The vast majority of black widow spider bites are relatively benign in nature. It is very very rare that someone dies from a black widow spider bite. Occasionally a small child or a elderly person may succumb to the Black widow spider bite venom. This is rare as well. In spite of the relatively small chances of death, the suffering of the black widow bite victim is usually rather common. For this reason, the black widow spider antivenin is widely used and accepted. Not only can it save a spider bite victim’s life, but it can reduce their suffering as well.

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Brown Recluse Spiders – Are They in Your Home?

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:44:38 +0000

Everyone has heard the horror stories about brown recluse spiders. To hear most people tell it, a brown recluse will chase you around the house, bite you, and make your leg fall off. The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of people on the earth will never even see a brown recluse spider. Of the small percentage of people that do see a brown recluse spider, they will likely not know that it was one. Brown recluse spiders are not exactly rare, but they are rarely seen. There is a reason that they are named recluses after all. It is for this reason that many people wonder if their home is also home to these little critters. So how can you tell if your home has brown recluse spiders?

The most effective and easy way to determine if you have brown recluse spiders is to lay down those nasty little glue strips. They are actually designed for mice, but these glue boards are highly effective at catching insects and spiders as well. They can easily be found at most any hardware store, and quite often can be found in the grocery store. The keys to success with these glue boards lies in where you place them.

Brown recluse spiders like to hide out in the most hidden areas of your home. Because they are very secretive, you need to place the traps in some of those low traffic areas. These areas include closets, under furniture, attics, garages and behind large appliances. Brown recluse spiders are thigmotactic. This means that they like to keep one side of their body against the wall. Knowing this, one should place the glue boards lengthwise against the wall. The spiders will climb across them and become stuck.

Once the spiders are attached to the glue board, then you can harmlessly inspect them with a magnifying glass to ensure that they are not Brown recluse spiders. If you find that they are brown recluse spiders, then you may consider contacting a professional to eradicate them from your home. This is far from an exact science, and will likely take a great deal of time. Still, a professional pest control expert can give you your best chance at getting rid of the brown recluse spiders.

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The Scariest Spiders On Earth

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:40:36 +0000

Sydney Funnel Web (Photo Credited To Wikipedia Commons User en:User:Tirin

Trying to determine the scariest spiders on earth is not the easiest thing in the world to do. It might seem like a no-brainer, but to tell you the truth it depends on who you are and what you have experienced with spiders. Still, I thought it might be fun to make a little list of the top five scary spiders on earth and why they are so scary.

5. Camel Spider The camel spider makes this list largely due to legend. Soldiers returning from Iraq have talked about finding spiders that are the size of a housecat. The truth is, the camel spider is not a spider at all. They are large, and they are scary looking. Most people think of them as spiders, so they make the list based on that alone.

4. Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula This spider is the biggest in the world. Goliath bird eaters can grow to the size of dinner plates, and they are known for that size. The truth is, the spider is scary to watch and look at. They are true miracles of the spider world.

3. Brown Recluse The brown recluse is famous and scary for one reason – their bite. When a brown recluse bites, their venom is necrotic. That is, the venom will begin to cause the skin and tissue to die in and around the wound. Horrific spider bites, amputations, and other dangerous outcomes for brown recluse bites have led to their inclusion on this list.

2. Black WidowThe black widow is the very definition of what a scary spider looks like. The signature hourglass on their abdomens is one of the iconic symbols of the spider world. This spider actually has a few different versions in the family, which include the southern and northern black widows, the brown widow, and the red widow. They all are creepy to most people but are actually quite shy and avoid biting when possible.

1. Sydney Funnel Web Spider Now this is one spider that has a very nasty disposition and the package to do some real damage. A Sydney funnel web spider can kill a healthy man without proper medical intervention, but what really scares people is the attitude of this spider. They are highly aggressive and will readily attack and bite you if you come near. The venom is among the most dangerous in the insect and spider world, and they have large fangs to deliver it with. The Sydney funnel web spider is my choice as the scariest spider in the world. How about you?

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How to Identify a Brown Widow Spider

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:53:55 +0000

The Brown Widow

The brown widow spider is not the same thing as a black widow spider. Many people think that they are the same thing, but this is not accurate. A brown widow spider is in the same family with the black widow, and they share a family with many others as well. How do you know a brown widow spider when you see one? Read on…

The brown widow is actually very similar to the black widow as far as size. They have a bulbous abdomen, and they are about the same size as a black widow. They are generally slightly smaller than a full grown black widow, but this can vary because of age and so on.

Where the black widow is black and shiny, the brown widow can be many different colors. The usual color is brown, but they can be grey, black, or any color in between. Another huge difference in the two is the hourglass marking on their bellies. The brown widow sports an orange or yellow marking, and the black widow sports a red one.

The brown widow has a bite that is similar in toxicity to the black widow. It is not universally agreed upon as to the severity of a brown widow bite, but they are generally less dangerous than a black widow. Most believe this is due to the amount of venom injected in a brown widow bite, rather than the toxicity of the venom.

The brown widow is also rather timid. They will not even attack when you are near their egg sac, unlike their black widow cousins. The brown widow is not interested in biting humans, and will only do so if they are trapped against your skin or messed with. Speaking of egg sacs, the brown widow has a very distinctive one. Their egg sacs are spiky looking and they are the only spiders to have this unique egg sac. This is a great way to ensure you are dealing with a brown widow.

This spider is found throughout the Southeast and Northeast, and is spreading across the United States. Already you can find them in South Carolina, Texas, and other states that originally did not have them. This is largely due to the habit of brown widows to hitch a ride on vehicles. This inadvertant relocation method has been very effective over the years.

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Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment And First Aid

admin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:27:42 +0000

The brown recluse spider bite can be one of the most invasive and destructive venomous bites in the United States. The brown recluse is not especially aggressive, but it will bite if it is cornered or perceives a threat. Most brown recluse spider bites happen when people dig into storage or retrieve items that have been left alone for a long time. The brown recluse has a habit of hiding in old shoes, clothing, and boxes. As such, people are bitten by brown recluse spiders. For this reason, it is important to know how to treat a brown recluse spider bite, and more importantly, what not to do when the brown recluse bites. Here are the dos and don’ts of brown recluse spider bites:

Pictures of Brown Recluse Spider Bites

What you should do when a brown recluse spider bites you:

1. Do go to the emergency room or doctor. Brown recluse spider bites are serious because the venom is necrotic. That is, it eats away at and kills tissue under the skin. These bites can lead to serious complications up to and including amputation. Worst case scenarios may even include death.

2. Do apply ice to a brown recluse spider bite. This will help with swelling and pain, and should be done on the way to the doctor.

3. Do wash the bite site with soap and cool water. This will help the brown recluse spider bite site resist infection.

4. Do elevate the limb above the heart. Venom travels through the blood stream, and you want to keep the bite site above your heart.

5. Do take acetamenophene for any pain you experience from the brown recluse spider bite.

6. Do remain calm after being bitten by a brown recluse spider. The venom travels faster if you are excited or active.

What you should not do if bitten by a brown recluse spider:

1. Do not risk retrieving the spider unless you can safely do so. You do not want to risk another bite. Try to identify the brown recluse. You can read about brown recluse spider identification here.

2. Do not ever add heat to the bite site. Heat will cause the tissue to break down quicker with a brown recluse spider bite.

3. Do not suck, cut, or attempt to remove the venom from a brown recluse spider bite. This can cause further damage as well as an added risk of spreading the venom.

4. Do not medicate the brown recluse bite site with creams, or medicines of any kind. Some of these can cause major problems with a brown recluse spider bite.

When you arrive at the doctors, you may receive any number of treatments for your brown recluse spider bite. These can include tetanus shots, allergy meds, pain medications, and even antibiotics. These depend on the site, as well as your reaction to the brown recluse spider bite.

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