Signs and Symptoms

If spiderbite is confirmed, the identity of the spider is important in prognosis and in treatment, particularly in the choice of antivenom. Sometimes clinical presentation can aid in determining the species.

Identification made on the basis of clinical presentation may be aided or confirmed by considering visual appearance and distribution of the species.

Sign or Symptom Probable Species

"Sympathetic overdrive". The specific signs of this condition may include:

  • Local sweating around the bite site
  • Local piloerection
  • Local fasciculation
  • Fasciculation of the tongue
  • Excessive salivation
  • Tachycardia
  • Lachrymation
  • Hypertension

Funnelweb
Mouse Spider
Dyspnoea
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema		 Funnelweb
Mouse Spider
Dizziness Redback
Brown House Spider
Regional pain
Swelling at regional lymph nodes		 Redback
Brown House Spider
Absence of neourological impairment other than drowsiness White-tailed spider, Black house spider, Huntsman, etc.
Headache Funnelweb
Mouse Spider
Redback
Brown House Spider
Sweating Funnelweb
Mouse Spider
Redback
Brown House Spider
Nausea and vomiting Funnelweb
Mouse Spider
Redback
Brown House Spider
White-tailed spider, Black house spider, Huntsman, etc.
Local pain
Local erythema
Local oedema		 Funnelweb
Mouse Spider
Redback
Brown House Spider
White-tailed spider, Black house spider, Huntsman, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated: July 2005