Spider bites

In Australia most spider bites occur during warmer months between December and April. Bites to the upper and lower extremities comprise approximately three quarters of cases. Any bite from a large >2cm dark-colored spider in the Sydney, Blue Mountain, Central, Northern and Southern Highlands, South Coast of NSW and South East Queensland should be considered as a dangerous bite. Basic first-aid such as an icepack or cold compress is an effective management regime in some spider bites and reduces pain significantly. The red back spider bite is the most common envenomation requiring antivenom in Australia. Anti-venom is indicated for all patients who present with clinical evidence of envenomation by a red back spider but this may be more predominant in the young and the elderly.