Treatment of snake, insect, scorpion, and spider bites in the pediatric emergency department.

Most people seem to have a visceral fear of snakes, spiders, scorpions, and insects out of proportion to the actual danger they pose. The vast majority of bites and stings cause little more than local pain and never require medical attention. Nevertheless, physicians who work in the emergency department must be prepared to treat the few patients who present with anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera stings, as well as to recognize and treat those rare individuals who receive severe envenomation from poisonous snakes, spiders, or scorpions.