AI Article Synopsis
- Spiders are often seen negatively, but actual bites are rare and only two species in the Mediterranean are medically significant.
- Diagnosing a spider bite is problematic, as it typically requires the actual spider to be identified by an expert, leading to many misdiagnoses based on skin lesions.
- This misdiagnosis can result in delays in treatment and potential legal issues, alongside a general lack of current knowledge on proper treatment protocols for confirmed spider bites.
Article Abstract
Despite the disrepute spiders have had for centuries, their bite is a rare occurrence. In the Mediterranean area, only two of the numerous known species are considered of medical significance: and . Spider bites have no pathognomonic signs or symptoms, therefore most diagnoses are presumptive; a spider bite can only be diagnosed when a spider (seen at the time of the bite) is collected and identified by an expert, since most physicians and patients are unable to recognize a certain spider species or distinguish spiders from other arthropods. Skin lesions of uncertain etiology are too often attributed to spider bites. In most cases, these are actually skin and soft-tissue infections, allergic reactions, dermatoses etc. Misdiagnosing a wound as a spider bite can lead to delays in appropriate care, cause adverse or even fatal outcomes and have medical-legal implications. Concerningly, misinformation on spider bites also affects the medical literature and it appears there is lack of awareness on current therapeutic indications for verified bites.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7534902 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2019-0100 | DOI Listing |
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