Clinical profile and outcomes of Tarantula bite: A retrospective observational study from Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: Tarantula bites are rare and often misunderstood in medical practice. In rural India, these bites cause anxiety and burden healthcare providers, often mistaken for snake bites or other arthropod envenomation’s, leading to unnecessary emergency treatments. This study aims to outline the clinical signs, management, and outcomes of tarantula bites in primary and secondary rural care settings. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study, conducted by the Department of Physiology at Midnapore Medical College and Debra Rural Hospital in West Bengal, spanned 12 months. It included 50 subjects with suspected tarantula bites. Patients presenting to the Emergency Department or outpatient services were screened, managed conservatively, and had favourable outcomes. Results: The most common symptom among tarantula bite patients (n = 50) was pain at the bite site, observed in 48 patients (96.0%), followed by local swelling in 44 patients (88.0%) and redness/erythema in 39 patients (78.0%). Other local symptoms included itching in 26 patients (52.0%), burning sensation in 22 patients (44.0%), and cellulitis in 18 patients (36.0%). Systemic manifestations were less frequent: fever in 11 patients (22.0%), systemic symptoms in 9 (18.0%), and nausea/vomiting in 6 (12.0%). Also, statistically significant associations between the monsoon season and cellulitis have been observed. Conclusion: Tarantula bites mainly result in localized inflammatory responses, with very good outcomes with appropriate early conservative management. Increased awareness among primary care physicians can help avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary use of antivenom, and reduce patient anxiety.