title: Red-back spider-bites at Fremantle Hospital, 1982-1987.
abstract: The published literature in Australia on red-back spider-bites allows no means of determination of the incidence of this envenomation. This retrospective study describes the experience at Fremantle Hospital with red-back spider-bites over a six-year period from 1982-1987 inclusive. One hundred and fifty patients were admitted to hospital with a definite red-back spider-bite, of whom 32 (21%) patients received antivenom; 11 (34%) of these patients received more than one ampoule. In earlier series, only 3% of patients have received more than one ampoule. These results suggest that the WA red-back spider is particularly venomous, and that the annual number of definite red-back spider-bites in Australia lies between approximately 830 and 1950 cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Fremantle Hospital, WA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jelinek
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Banham
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dunjey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006773:Hospitals, Municipal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013112:Spiders; D013933:Thumb / Q000293:injuries; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins