Presentation
Latrodectism is related to neurotoxins present in the venom of widow spiders. Most cases present with headache, lethargy, irritability, myalgia, tremor, fasciculation, or ataxia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Signs and symptoms of a bee sting Can include: barb of the bee sting present pain at the sting site itching and swelling at the sting site. [sielearning.tafensw.edu.au]
Entire Body System
- Inflammation
A few dabs on irritated spots should help relieve some itching and burning as well as reduce inflammation. [theherbalacademy.com]
Ice numbs the area and arrests the inflammation from the poison. For bites from fire ants, try a dab of Vicks VapoRub to relieve pain and itching. Tick bites are not as harmless as they might seem. [everydayhealth.com]
That ‘run in’ may lead to a mild little itch or to a great deal of swelling, discomfort, inflammation, redness or burning. [orangenaturals.com]
Ice or any cold compress does triple first-aid duty by diminishing the itch, reducing inflammation and swelling, and easing the pain of bites/stings. [health.howstuffworks.com]
Symptoms may include: Small bumps on the skin Pain or itching Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) Allergy-like reactions such as swelling or blistering The symptoms of a flea, mite, or chigger bite may be like other health conditions. [urmc.rochester.edu]
- Localized Pain
Though a sting can cause severe local pain, the venom is not lethal and no deaths have been recorded. [sielearning.tafensw.edu.au]
A local reaction consists of sharp, localized pain followed by a reddening at the site, which usually resolves itself in 24 hours. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Most cause only transient local pain and/or itching, but about 1 percent of Americans experience severe allergic reactions to insect venom; about fifty die each year. Furthermore, these pests can transmit diseases. [motherearthliving.com]
If bee, European wasp, ant or non-tropical minor jellyfish sting is suspected apply an ice pack for 15 minutes at a time to reduce local pain and swelling. [conditions.health.qld.gov.au]
“Most ant bites cause localized pain and swelling, but typically do not have significant whole-body effects,” says Dr. Patrick Mahaney of Los Angeles, California. [petmd.com]
- Wound Infection
infection, such as pus or increasing pain, swelling or redness you have symptoms of a more widespread infection, such as a fever, swollen glands and other flu-like symptoms When to get emergency medical help Dial 999 for an ambulance immediately if you [nhs.uk]
- Marine Animal Bite Or Sting
Marine animal bites and stings In the waters around Australia there are many types of fish, jellyfish and other marine animals that can inflict painful and sometimes life threatening bites and stings. [sielearning.tafensw.edu.au]
Cardiovascular
- Hypotension
Allergic reactions may manifest with urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, refractory hypotension, or a combination; swelling alone is not a manifestation of allergic reaction. [merckmanuals.com]
Severe systemic reaction A severe systemic response to ant venom is marked by clinical manifestations in 2 organ systems distant from the bite/sting, such as angioedema (especially of larynx ), flushing, hoarseness, wheezing/bronchospasm, chest pain, hypotension [dermnetnz.org]
Pain, burning, edema and anaphylaxis can accompany the local skin reaction. 17 Systemic reaction can include generalized urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema and hypotension. 17 Anaphylaxis can occur similar to stings from other insects [podiatrytoday.com]
Musculoskeletal
- Arthralgia
Symptomatic individuals typically present with fever, headache, weakness, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, vomiting and a transient maculopapular rash. [podiatrytoday.com]
Skin
- Blister
Bumps usually disappear in about an hour, and small blisters may appear within four hours of the initial reaction. About a day after a bite, blisters normally become filled with a pus-like substance. [orkin.com]
Grace/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Mite bites cause very itchy red lumps to develop on the skin and can sometimes also cause blisters. [nhs.uk]
Painful, itchy bumps that may turn into small blisters are characteristic of bites. These bites often disappear in a day but may last longer. [healthychildren.org]
However, some people have more serious reactions like blistering lesions or larger hives accompanied by fever and joint swelling. [aaaai.org]
Bites appear as swollen red spots that develop a blister on top. Stings burn, itch, and last up to a week. [healthline.com]
- Dermatitis
Summary Seabather’s eruption is a dermatitis caused by stings of the larval form of the jellyfish Linuche unguiculata. The dermatitis appears on covered areas after seawater exposure. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]
Discontinue use if hypersensitivity (e.g. contact dermatitis) occurs. [orangenaturals.com]
Non-venomous insects that bite include: Mosquito Flea Tick Bed bug Louse Scabies Caterpillars and moths Some caterpillars and moths have irritating hairs and sharp spines, causing stinging, short-lasting papular urticaria, dermatitis and allergic reactions [dermnetnz.org]
Symptoms may include: Small bumps on the skin Pain or itching Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) Allergy-like reactions such as swelling or blistering The symptoms of a flea, mite, or chigger bite may be like other health conditions. [urmc.rochester.edu]
Symptoms may include: Small, raised skin lesions Pain or itching Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) Allergic-type reactions in hypersensitive people with swelling or blistering The symptoms of a flea, mite, or chigger bite may resemble other conditions [hopkinsmedicine.org]
- Skin Ulcer
White-tailed spider (Lampona) There is no clear scientific evidence that bites from these spiders cause skin ulceration. Treat as for bites from all other spiders. [healthywa.wa.gov.au]
Spider bites like the brown recluse may cause blistering and necrotic skin ulceration while black widow spider bites cause more systemic symptoms such as: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and rarely, respiratory problems. [emedicinehealth.com]
DO NOT pull the leech off as the skin may be torn and ulceration may follow or parts of the jaw may remain and set up infection. [austin.org.au]
Face, Head & Neck
- Facial Swelling
You should seek emergency medical help immediately if the following symptoms appear: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain Facial swelling, swallowing problems Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, significant coughing, hoarseness, and possibly chest discomfort [familymedicineassociates.com]
- Facial Edema
Most bee and wasp stings result in immediate pain, wheal-and-flare reaction and edema. [podiatrytoday.com]
Psychiatrical
- Fussiness
The patient becomes restless anxious, fussy and is prostrated. It is useful in poisonous spider bites that take of a blackish hue. Belladonna (2): This remedy is useful for bites and stings where there is rapid swelling and violent symptoms. [simillimum.com]
Moderate pain (5 to 7) : The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her. [uwhealth.org]
Neurologic
- Headache
Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever : Initial symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, muscle pain, and lack of appetite. [medicinenet.com]
A toxic reaction may include gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, headache, dizziness or convulsions, often following an episode of multiple stings. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
If you feel tired all the time, you have a headache, fever or body aches, or you develop a rash after a bug bite, see a board-certified dermatologist immediately. [aad.org]
- Irritability
The redness and irritation associated with chiggers has given these insects the nickname of Red Bugs. [pestproducts.com]
Rarely skin irritation and sensitisation may occur. If symptoms persist, or any unwanted effects occur, stop using the gel and consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. [sainsburys.co.uk]
Read more Stinging nettle is a common weed in New Zealand, and its sting can be very irritating. Find out how to care for nettle stings and relieve the itching. Read more [health.govt.nz]
Most cases present with headache, lethargy, irritability, myalgia, tremor, fasciculation, or ataxia. Loxoscelism is caused by envenoming by spiders of the family Sicariidae. It may present with a stroke due to a severe coagulopathy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Agitation
Insect bites and stings occur when an insect is agitated and seeks to defend itself through its natural defense mechanisms, or when an insect seeks to feed off the bitten person. [en.wikipedia.org]
[…] hornets) Formicids (eg, nonwinged fire ants) Apids usually do not sting unless provoked; however, Africanized honeybees (killer bees), migrants from South America that reside in some southern and southwestern US states, are especially aggressive when agitated [merckmanuals.com]
Like the old saying you do not want to disturb a hornets nest as they are very aggressive when agitated. If you are stung by a hornet, venom is pumped into the skin via a stinger at the back end of the insect. [mirror.co.uk]
This is a small price to pay considering the symptoms of rabies — general malaise progressing to confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and, within a few days, death. Once symptoms occur, rabies is not generally survivable. [alertdiver.com]
- Meningism
Rarely, infected individuals develop neurologic disease, which can present as meningitis, encephalitis or paralysis. Treatment of West Nile virus is supportive involving monitoring, fluid replacement, analgesics and rest. [podiatrytoday.com]
They may vary from flu-like symptoms that include fever, headache, and body aches (in most people) to meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). [medbroadcast.com]
Examples are bacteremia and meningitis, especially severe in children with health conditions that increase their susceptibility to infection. Rabies is rare among pet dogs in the United States, most of which have been vaccinated against the disease. [healthofchildren.com]
Examples are bacteremia and meningitis, especially severe in people diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) or other health condition that increases their susceptibility to infection. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
- Slurred Speech
[…] dysfunction. 14 Systemic symptoms include cranial nerve abnormalities, excessive motor activity and autonomic dysfunction. 14 Cranial nerve abnormalities can cause abnormal eye movements, blurry vision, excessive salivation, tongue fasciculations and slurred [podiatrytoday.com]
Urogenital
- Kidney Failure
Rare complications include fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, hemolytic anemia, rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure. Read full article on brown recluse spider bites. [healthline.com]
Stings from large hornets or multiple (hundreds or thousands) bee stings have been reported to cause muscle breakdown and kidney failure and death. [emedicinehealth.com]
Treatment
Treatment with extracts of the whole offending insect generally provides good results but the protection afforded by such treatment varies in degree and duration. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prompt treatment can minimize symptoms and promote recovery. [healthline.com]
Prognosis
Insect Bites Prognosis Most people respond well to home or emergency treatment for bug bites or stings. [emedicinehealth.com]
Prognosis Mammals Prompt treatment and recognizing that even apparently minor bites can have serious consequences are the keys to a good outcome after a mammal bite. Infected bites can be fatal if neglected. [healthofchildren.com]
Etiology
Scabies Definition and Etiology Scabies is an ectoparasite infestation caused by the female mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]
Epidemiology
Data including epidemiological aspects, clinical findings and outcomes of treatment were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi(2) test. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Heukelbach J, Feldmeier H: Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans. Lancet Infect Dis 2008;8(5):302-309. Heukelbach J, Feldmeier H: Scabies. Lancet 2006;367(9524):1767-1774. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]
Epidemiology of scorpionism: a global appraisal. Acta Trop. 2010;8(107):71-9. Meredith JT. Bites and Stings. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, eds. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. Seventh Edition. [podiatrytoday.com]
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology and Natural History The mode of transmission varies among genera. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]
Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. Elsevier, St. Louis, 2014, pp. 923-952. Barry M, Kauffman CL, Wilson BB, Rozen E, Rosh AJ. Scabies. Medscape Drugs & Diseases. [podiatrytoday.com]
Prevention
Because of the rapid onset of anaphylaxis, life-saving measures include awareness in persons who are hypersensitive, emergency preparedness and preventing bites and stings from occurring. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
[…] mosquito bites and malaria infection | Cochrane Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website Vector and reservoir control for preventing leishmaniasis | Cochrane This review summarises trials evaluating different measures to prevent leishmaniasis [healthdirect.gov.au]
Free resources are available from the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education to help. [articles.extension.org]