This little critter is one of Australia's best kept secrets. Because
there are no recorded deaths directly attributed to its bite; it has
not been considered to be deadly, therefor it hasn't had the high
profile that it should when it comes to funding for research.
However, not all the medical profession agrees with that statement
as there have been three known deaths and one suicide attributed
to it's bite. Victims do not die as a direct result, but the bite affects
other bodily organs. Word is now spreading about the effects that
a bite from the white-tailed spider can produce, and as you can see
it is not good.
The white-tailed Spider (Lampona cylindrata) has a reputation for
causing necrotising arachnidism. In 1987, a case of extensive tissue
damage following a suspected white-tailed Spider bite was reported
in an Australian medical journal. Since that time the white-tailed
spider has been implicated in the print and electronic media, and in
medical journals as the most likely cause of necrotising arachnidism.
necrotising arachnidism
The normal process of tissue death starts because of a loss of an
oxygen rich blood supply. Often the body can replace the damage; wheals
from jellyfish stings may be replaced by scar tissue - but in severe
cases of necrosis from spider bites, the loss is extensive and irreversible,
reaching through all layers of skin.
Skin death may start with surface blistering, or with darkening below,
and can be rapid and agonizing. It can be accompanied by drastic attacks
of vomiting and diarrhea. Or, it may be gradual with very little pain. One
case in Melbourne had a fast onset and a slow, relentless continuation.
The only way of repairing the damage involves skin grafts, and sometimes
even amputations.
Often the affected area appears intially as a small blister and then satellite
ulcers develop around the original lesion. It may be necessary to exceise
the total area of ulceration rather than to concentrate on the small areas,
because if left all layers of skin and underlying tissue subsequently break
down. This has been seen on several occasions, though it may not occur in
every case.
The importance of seeing your medical practitioner cannot be stressed enough.
Samples of the secretion from blisters and ulcers need to be taken for analysis,
in order for the correct treatment to be started as quickly as possible. Waiting for
ulcers to go away without treatment is dangerous as infection and gangrene is a
real threat to immediate and long-term health.
These are the progressive photos of Helen's bite from February 1998 up to and including a skin graft in June1998. Click on each picture for a detailed photo of the area.
These pictures show a huge black abscess on the stomach of a small dog and the same area a year after a variety of treatments. Click on picture for a larger photo.
Another example of a spider bite area after 8 weeks. Click on picture for a larger photo.
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