ABSTRACT
Arthropods adversely affect humans in a number of ways. There are direct effects, such as tissue damage due to stings and bites, as well as vesicating fluid exposure and tissue infestation by the bugs themselves. Treatment principles for the direct effects of biting insects generally involve palliative antipruritic lotions or creams and a brief course of systemic corticosteroids if necessary. Certainly, bees, wasps, or ants can sting and produce toxic effects in humans by their venom alone, regardless of hypersensitivity. In a hypersensitive or “allergic” person, a relatively innocuous antigen elicits an out-of-proportion immune reaction. Thus, the tissue damage resulting from hypersensitivity is worse than the actual damage produced by the salivary secretion, venom, or other antigen itself. Widow spiders and some scorpions produce ill effects in humans by neurotoxic venoms. Strategies for treating an arthropod bite or sting that is neurotoxic in nature involve counteracting the effects of the venom and supportive treatment.
