1. Insect and Arthropod Bites and Stings
Chapter 18
Insect and Arthropod Bites and Stings

2. Lesson Objectives (1 of 2)
Describe the bites of poisonous spiders, including black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, and tarantulas, and explain how to manage such bites.
Recognize a scorpion and its sting and know how to manage such stings.
Assess and treat tick bites and know that some ticks can transmit Lyme disease to humans.

3. Lesson Objectives (2 of 2)
Assess and manage mosquito bites.
Identify lice and no how to eradicate a lice infestation.
Assess and treat insect stings and identify the various types of insect repellents.

4. Spider Bites (1 of 8)
Black widow spider
© photobar/ShutterStock, Inc.

5. Spider Bites (2 of 8) Black widow spider What to look for:
A sharp, pinprick sensation
Faint red bite marks
Muscle stiffness and cramps affecting the bitten limb and ascending to the abdomen and thorax
Headache, fever, chills, heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain

6. Spider Bites (3 of 8) Black widow spider What to do:
Catch the spider for identification.
Clean the bite with soap and water.
Use an ice pack on the bite to relieve pain.
Administer pain medication orally.
Check breathing.
Seek medical attention immediately.

7. Spider Bites (4 of 8) Brown recluse spider
Courtesy of Kenneth Cramer, Monmouth College

8. Spider Bites (5 of 8) Brown recluse spider What to look for:
Bite with bull’s-eye appearance and a blister at the site with redness and swelling
Local pain
Fever, weakness, vomiting, joint pain, and a rash

9. Spider Bites (6 of 8) Brown recluse spider What to do:
Catch or kill the spider for identification.
Clean the bite with soap and water.
Use an ice pack on the bite to relieve pain.
Administer pain medication orally.
Seek medical attention promptly if large areas of inflammation develop.

10. Spider Bites (7 of 8)
Tarantula
© photobar/ShutterStock, Inc.

11. Spider Bites (8 of 8) Tarantula What to do:
Clean the bite with soap and water.
Relive pain with an ice pack.
Evacuate if the species is known to be dangerous.

12. Scorpion Stings (1 of 4)
© Kirubeshwaran/ShutterStock, Inc.

13. Scorpion Stings (2 of 4) What to look for:
Instant local pain and burning
Difficulty swallowing
Slurred speech
Numbness and tingling

14. Scorpion Stings (3 of 4) What to look for: Occasional paralysis
Muscle spasms
Breathing difficulties
Jerking and twitching

15. Scorpion Stings (4 of 4) What to do: Check breathing.
Clean the bite with soap and water.
Apply an ice pack to relieve pain.
Evacuate as soon as possible.

16. Centipede Bites (1 of 2) Centipedes have small fangs and venom glands.
Burning pain, swelling, and redness can last up to 3 weeks.

17. Centipede Bites (2 of 2) What to do:
Most bites will get better without treatment.
Administer antihistamines by mouth.
Apply hydrocortisone on the bite.

18. Tick Bites (1 of 7)
© Joao Estevao A. Freitas (jefras/ShutterStock, Inc.

19. Tick Bites (2 of 7) What to do: Difficult to remove
Improper or partial removal can lead to local infection.
Use tweezers or a tick removal device to grab the tick close the skin and pull steadily; or lift slightly upward, and then pull parallel to the skin.
If head remains embedded, remove with a needle.

20. Tick Bites (3 of 7) What to do: Wash the bite with soap and water.
Apply an ice pack for pain.
Watch for signs of local infection.
Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illness.
Seek medical attention if symptoms appear.

21. Tick Bites (4 of 7) Lyme disease
A potentially serious tick-borne infection
Affects the joints, skin, heart, and nervous system
Transported by ticks from deer and mice to humans

22. Tick Bites (5 of 7) Lyme disease What to look for: Early stages
Distinctive rash
Fatigue
Fever
Chills
Weakness
Headache
Stiff neck
Muscle or joint pain

23. Tick Bites (6 of 7) Lyme disease What to look for: Later stages
One-sided paralysis
Arthritis
Meningitis
Nerve damage
Heart damage

24. Tick Bites (7 of 7) Lyme disease What to do:
If symptoms appear within a month of a tick bite, consult a doctor.
Antibiotic treatment is usually curative.

25. Mosquito Bites Mosquitoes carry many diseases.
Use an effective repellent and mosquito netting.

26. Lice (1 of 2)
© Phototake, Inc./Alamy Images

27. Lice (2 of 2)
What to do:
Treat with lice shampoo or lotion containing permethrin, pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide, or lindane.
Wash clothes, sleeping bags, pillow cases, or other bedding in soap and hot water.
Do not share clothes or hairbrushes.

28. Insect Stings (1 of 7)
Honeybee
Bumblebee
Yellow jacket
Wasp
Fire ant

29. Insect Stings (2 of 7) What to look for: Stinger may be visible.
The sooner symptoms develop, the more serious the reaction.

30. Insect Stings (3 of 7) What to look for: Local reactions Brief pain
Redness
Swelling
Itching
Heat

31. Insect Stings (4 of 7) What to look for: Generalized reactions
Diffuse skin redness
Hives
Swelling of lips or tongue
Wheezing
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea

32. Insect Stings (5 of 7) What to look for: Life-threatening reactions:
Inability to breath due to swelling of the air passages and throat
Bluish or gray skin color
Seizures
Unconsciousness

33. Insect Stings (6 of 7) What to do:
Scrape the stinger and venom sac off the skin.
Wash the sting with soap and water.
Apply cold to the site for 15 to 20 minutes.
Give a mild analgesic.
Use hydrocortisone and antihistamines to reduce local symptoms.

34. Insect Stings (7 of 7) What to do:
Use a paste of baking soda and water to absorb venom and relieve pain.
Observe for at least 60 minutes for serious allergic reaction.
If hives or redness and swelling occur with difficulty breathing, administer epinephrine.

35. Insect Repellents Natural repellents (citronella and lemon eucalyptus)
Synthetic repellents (DEET and dimethylphthalate)
Insecticides (permethrin, deltamethrin, and alphamethrin)