106 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
BITE OF THE BEADED LIZARD (GILA MONSTER)
The bite of the beaded lizard is
treated just like a poisonous snakebite,
except that there are no good
antivenoms for it. The bite can be very
dangerous. Wash the bite area well.
Avoid movement and keep the bite
below the level of the heart.
Southern
U.S.A. and
Northern
Mexico
SCORPION STING
Some scorpions are far more poisonous than others. To
adults, scorpion stings are rarely dangerous. Take aspirin or
acetaminophen and if possible put ice on the sting to help
calm the pain. For the numbness and pain that sometimes last
weeks or months, hot compresses may be helpful (see p. 193).
To children under 5 years old, scorpion stings can be
dangerous, especially if the sting is on the head or body. In
some countries scorpion antitoxin is available (p. 387). To do
much good it must be injected within 2 hours after the child has been stung. Give
acetaminophen for the pain. If the child stops breathing, use mouth to mouth breathing
(see p. 80). Also give tetanus antitoxin (see p. 388). If the child who was stung is very
young or has been stung on the main part of the body, or if you know the scorpion was
of a deadly type, seek medical help fast.
BLACK WIDOW
AND OTHER SPIDER BITES
The majority of spider bites, including that of the
tarantula, are painful but not dangerous. The bite of a
few kinds of spiders—such as the ‘black widow’ and
related species—can make an adult quite ill. They
can be dangerous for a small child. A black widow
bite often causes painful muscle cramps all over
the body, and extreme pain in the stomach muscles
which become rigid. (Sometimes this is confused
with appendicitis!)
Give acetaminophen or aspirin and look for
medical help. Most cures sold in stores are a waste of money and do not help.
Diazepam, p. 390, may help reduce muscular spasms. If signs of shock develop, treat
for allergic shock, p. 70. Injections of cortisone may be needed in children. Also give
tetanus antitoxin (see p. 388). A good antivenom exists but is hard to get.