Tarantula Bite

Aka: Tarantula Bite, Tarantula, Poisoning due to Tarantula Spider Venom, Tarantula Venom

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II. Epidemiology

  1. Most common in Desert Southwest

III. Types: Tarantula genera

  1. Acanthoscurria
  2. Brachypelma
  3. Gramostola
  4. Lasiodora

IV. Symptoms

  1. Bite reactions
    1. Mild stinging with minimal inflammation at bite site
    2. No local necrosis or systemic reactions
  2. Skin exposure to hairs on dorsal Tarantula body
    1. Severe localized Pruritus
  3. Eye exposure to hairs on dorsal Tarantula body
    1. Corneal Foreign Body reaction
    2. Causes ophthalmia nodosa or keratoconjunctivitis

V. Management: Symptomatic

  1. Thorough Wound Cleansing
  2. Tetanus Prophylaxis
  3. Elevate extremity
  4. Oral Analgesics

VI. Management: Eye reactions (Ophthalmia nodosa)

  1. Immediate ophthalmology referral

VII. Course

  1. Bites
    1. Bites have mild effects in humans
    2. Bites may be lethal in animals (esp. dogs)
  2. Eye reaction: Ophthalmia nodosa
    1. Risk of Keratitis, Uveitis, chorioretinitis

VIII. References

  1. Diaz (2007) Am Fam Physician 75(6):869-73 [PubMed]
  2. Isbister (2003) Toxicon 41:519-24 [PubMed]
  3. Rutzen (1993) Am J Ophthalmol 116:381-2 [PubMed]

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