Spider bites and insect stings
Funnel-web, redback and the harmless rest, why white-tail spiders don't cause necrotic ulcers, bee, wasp and jack jumper ant stings from local reaction to anaphylaxis, venom immunotherapy, and tick bites.
Tier 2Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Most Australian spider bites cause local pain only. Two matter: funnel-web (rare, can kill within hours) and redback (common, painful, rarely dangerous).
- Treat any big black spider bite on the east coast as a funnel-web bite until proven otherwise: pressure bandage, transfer, observe.
- Redback: analgesia first. Antivenom showed no significant benefit over placebo in RAVE-II.
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Sources
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Toxicology and Toxinology (December 2024 update)AU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited, 2024
- ANZCOR Guideline 9.4.8: Envenomation, pressure immobilisation techniqueAU/NZAustralian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation
- ASCIA Insect and tick allergy, Jack jumper ant allergy and Venom immunotherapy FAQ (2024 to 2026)AU/NZAustralasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 2026
- Isbister GK, Page CB, Buckley NA, et al. Randomized controlled trial of intravenous antivenom versus placebo for latrodectism: the second Redback Antivenom Evaluation (RAVE-II) study. Ann Emerg Med 2014;64(6):620-628AU/NZAnnals of Emergency Medicine, 2014
- Isbister GK, Gray MR, Balit CR, et al. Funnel-web spider bite: a systematic review of recorded clinical cases. Med J Aust 2005;182(8):407-411AU/NZMedical Journal of Australia, 2005
- Isbister GK, Gray MR. White-tail spider bite: a prospective study of 130 definite bites by Lampona species. Med J Aust 2003;179(4):199-202AU/NZMedical Journal of Australia, 2003
- ASCIA Venom immunotherapy FAQ (content updated May 2026)AU/NZAustralasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, 2026
- Funnel Web Spider Antivenom (AUST R 31847) Product Information, version 8AU/NZSeqirus (CSL), current, accessed November 2026
- Loria SF, Frank SC, Dupérré N, et al. The world's most venomous spider is a species complex: systematics of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atracidae: Atrax robustus). BMC Ecol Evol 2025;25:7BMC Ecology and Evolution, 2025
- Sulaeman SJ, Graudins A. Evolution in the choice of therapies used to treat latrodectism: Redback spider antivenom or standard analgesic medications. Nothing to rave about. Emerg Med Australas 2023;35(4):630-635AU/NZEmergency Medicine Australasia, 2023
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
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