Bites and Stings Health Article

Definition

Humans can be injured by the bites or stings of many kinds of animals, including mammals such as dogs, cats, and fellow humans; arthropods such as spiders, bees, and wasps; snakes; and marine animals such as jellyfish and stingrays.

Mammals

DOGS. The risk of a dog bite injury can be reduced by avoiding sick or stray dogs, staying away from dogfights (people often get bitten when they try to separate the animals), and not behaving in ways that might provoke or upset dogs, such as wrestling with them or bothering them while they are sleeping, eating, or looking after their puppies. Special precautions need to be taken around infants and young children, who must never be left alone with a dog. Pit bulls, rottweilers, and German shepherds (responsible for nearly half of all fatal dog attacks in the United States in 1997-2000) are potentially dangerous pets in households where children live or visit. For all breeds of dog, obedience training as well as spaying or neutering lessen the chances of aggressive behavior.

CATS. Prevention involves warning children to stay away from strange cats and to avoid rough play and other behavior that can anger cats and cause them to bite.

Arthropods

SPIDERS. Common-sense precautions include clearing webs out of garages, outhouses, and other places favored by venomous spiders; keeping one's hands away from places where spiders may be lurking; and, when camping or vacationing, checking clothing, shoes, and sleeping areas.

BEES AND WASPS. When possible, avoid the nests of bees and wasps and do not eat sweet food or wear bright clothing, perfumes, or cosmetics that attract bees and wasps.

Emergency medical kits containing self-administrable epinephrine to counter anaphylactic shock are available for allergic people and should be carried by them at all times. People who suspect they are allergic should consult an allergist about shots that can reduce reactions to bee and wasp venom.

Snakes

Snakes should not be kept as pets. Measures such as mowing the lawn, keeping hedges trimmed, and removing brush from the yard also discourages snakes from living close to human dwellings. Tongs should be used to move brush, lumber, and firewood, to avoid exposing one's hands to snakes that might be lying underneath. Similarly, golfers should never use their hands to retrieve golf balls from a water hole, since snakes can be hiding in the rocks and weeds. Caution is also necessary when walking through weedy or grassy areas, and children should be prevented from playing in weedy, vacant lots and other places where snakes may live. Leather boots and long pants offer hikers and campers some protection from bites. Approaching a snake, even a dead one, can be dangerous, for the venom of recently killed snakes may still be active.

Marine animals

JELLYFISH. Prevention of jellyfish stings includes obeying posted warning signs at the beach. Also, jellyfish tentacles may be transparent and up to 120 ft (36.5m) long, therefore great caution must be exercised whenever a jellyfish is sighted nearby.

STINGRAYS. Shuffling while walking through shallow areas that may be inhabited by stingrays will disturb the water, causing the animal to move before it can be stepped on.

BOOKS

Holve, Steve. "Envenomations." In Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed., edited by Goldman, Lee and Bennett, J. Claude. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 2000, 2174-2178.

Linden, Christopher H and Lovejoy, Frederick H. " Disorders caused by reptile bites and marine animal evenomations." In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. edited by Anthony S. Fauci, et al. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998, 2544-2548.

Norris, Robert L, Oslund, Scott and Auerbach, Paul S. "Ectoparasite infestations and arthropod bites and stings." In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed., edited by Anthony S. Fauci, et al. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998, 2548-2554.

Sutherland, Struan and Tibballs, James. Australian Animal Toxins, 2nd ed. New York, Oxford Univ Press, 2001.

PERIODICALS

Graudins A, Padula M, Broady K, Nicholson GM. "Red-back spider (Latrodectus hasselti) antivenom prevents the toxicity of widow spider venoms." Annals of Emergency Medicine 37(2): 154-160, 2001.

Jarvis RM, Neufeld MV, Westfall CT. "Brown recluse spider bite to the eyelid." Ophthalmology 107(8): 1492-1496, 2000.

Kasdan ML, Kasdan AS, Hamilton DL. "Lionfish envenomation." Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 80(4): 613-614,1987.

Metry DW, Hebert AA. "Insect and arachnid stings, bites, infestations, and repellents." Pediatric Annals 29(1): 39-48, 2000.

Sams HH, Dunnick CA, Smith ML, King LE. "Necrotic arachnidism." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 44(4): 561-573, 2001.

Sams HH. "Nineteen documented cases of Loxosceles reclusa envenomation." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 44(4): 603-608, 2001.