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BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
20 September,2005: Australia's red back spiders are increasingly spotted throughout the UAE. And a Dubai hospital has recently cquired the anti-venom from Australia as they fear the epidemic.
The Funnel Web spider found throughout Australia is black, aggressive, six-seven centimeters long with large fangs. In fact, there are other spiders from Australia which cause more harm and the symptoms are more severe.
The venom produced by a red back spider acts directly on the nerves resulting in release and subsequent depletion of neurotransmitters.
Symptoms of spider bite including sweating, muscle twitching, severe rapid hypertension, vomiting, airway obstruction, muscle spasms, pulmonary oedema, unconsciousness and wide dilated pupils generally cause death without pressure immobilisation technique.
According to the Australian Venom Research Unit at the University of Melbourne in Australia, spider bites which present with milder to moderate pain or with systemic symptoms require anti-venom, otherwise ice packs can be used to relieve only moderate local pain.
BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT |
