A clinical and epidemiological study on spider bites in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

To classify and characterize spider bites among inquiries to the National Poison Information Center (NPIC) between 1995 and 2004, in terms of the epidemiology and clinical symptomatology.

METHODS

Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from the NPIC's patient records. The following information was recorded for each spider bite: demographics, circumstances of the bite, and local and systemic effects.

RESULTS

A total of 82 cases were reported. The accidents were mostly seen during August. The gender distribution was 59.76% male, 37.20% female, and 2.44% unknown and the 20-29 age group presented more spider bites. Most of the cases were in the Central Anatolia, Marmara, Mediterranean, and Black Sea regions. Local symptoms were observed in 60.87% of the cases, including local pain, edema, redness, itching, debris, burning, and numbness. Systemic symptoms were observed such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, anxiety, weakness, somnolence, dyspnea, hypertension, hypotension, and hyperthermia.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, these findings emphasize the presence of medically important spider species in Turkey. All patients and especially pediatric patients should be admitted to the hospital. Identification of spider species may be considered a useful clinical and epidemiological tool in determining the incidence and risk of spider bites.