Bites and stings of the arthropod kind

PREVIEW

As the cold, wet conditions of winter give way to the pleasant weather of spring and summer, we Homo sapiens venture out of our “dens” for increasingly extended periods of the day and night. Many of the creeping and flying creatures we encounter outdoors consider our species to be a source of food or a threat to safety. The result is often bites and stings. Primary care physicians must be able to accurately identify the source of such wounds and treat the victim appropriately. Dr Kemp reviews arthropods commonly seen in the United States, and he discusses management of bites and reactions to them, some of which can be severe.