paul on Nostr: i stayed with friends in australia whose house was infested with redbacks. i left the ...

i stayed with friends in australia whose house was infested with redbacks. i left the next day.

Envenomation from a redback spider bite produces a syndrome known as latrodectism. A small but significant percentage of people bitten develop significant pain or systemic symptoms.[119] The diagnosis is made from the clinical condition, often based on the victim being aware of a bite and ideally with identification of the spider. Laboratory tests are rarely needed and there is no specific test for the venom or latrodectism.[102]

The redback's small size means that swelling or puncture marks at the bite site are uncommon. The bite may be painful from the start, but more often only feels like a pinprick or mild burning sensation.[84] Within an hour, a more severe local pain may develop with local sweating and sometimes piloerection (goosebumps)—these three symptoms together are a classic presentation of redback spider envenomation.[120] Pain, swelling and redness can spread proximally up a limb or away from the bite site[57][84][102] and regional lymph nodes may become painful.[87] Some subjects with delayed symptoms may present with a characteristic sweating and pain in the lower limbs,[120] generally below the knees,[102] or a burning sensation in the soles of the feet. This may eventuate even if the person was bitten somewhere else on their body.[120]

Around one in three subjects develops systemic symptoms;[102] after a number of hours, or rarely, delayed for more than 24 hours.[82][121] Symptoms typically include nausea, vomiting, abdominal or chest pain, agitation, headache, generalised sweating and hypertension.[102][120] Other non-specific systemic effects such as malaise and lethargy are also common. Rarely, other effects are reported such as neurological manifestations, fever and priapism (uncontrolled erection of the penis).[2] Severe pain usually persists for over 24 hours after being bitten. Symptoms of envenomation may linger for weeks or even months.[61] Rare complications include localised skin infection, seizure, coma, pulmonary oedema, or respiratory failure.[82] Children, the elderly, or those with serious medical conditions are at much higher risk of severe effects resulting from a bite.[95] Infants have died within hours of a bite, but adult fatalities have taken up to 30 days.[122]

Children and infants may be unable to report being bitten, making it difficult to associate their symptoms with a spider bite.[119] Symptoms seen in infants include inconsolable crying, refusing to feed and a general erythematous rash.[123][b] Muscle aches and pains, and neck spasm are often seen in children over four years of age.[61]

Unlike those of some other spiders, redback bites do not necrose.[126] Latrodectism has been misdiagnosed as various medical conditions including acute hepatitis, sepsis, testicular torsion or an acute abdomen.[61]

on balance i am happy in scotland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redback_spider#Bites_to_humans