Review article: Spider bite

December 22, 2011, 1:57 am

Black widow spider

★★★★☆

Spider bite. Isbister GK, Fan HW. Lancet 2011 Dec 10;378:2039-2047.

Abstract 

This up-to-date review article covers 4 types of toxic spiders: Latrodectus (widow spiders), Loxosceles (recluse, fiddleback, or brown spiders); funnel-web spiders, and Phoneutria (the South American wandering spider, AKA the banana or armed spider). Although it is difficult so summarize since it covers so much ground, and does not contain much that is new or surpring, it is worth reading for its pictures, review of the literature, and 99 references.

While we’re on the subject of spiders, here are some excerpts from the TV show Bite Me with Dr. Mike Leahy:

Australian Funnel-Web Spider:

 

Brazilian Wandering Spider:

 

Brown Recluse Spider:

 

Related posts:

Brown recluse spider bite or MRSA: an important differential diagnosis?

 

Killer funnel-web spiders invade Sydney! 

One Comment:

  1. Michael Says:

    Nice review about spider bites. You should also add about brown widow spider bites. Here’s why: http://brownwidowspider.net/

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