Introduction

Abstract

Much has been made, and rightly so, of the role played by arthropods as vectors of infectious diseases. The physical effects of the arthropods themselves on the human skin receive much less attention. When a person is attacked by an arthropod, regardless of whether an infection is transferred or not, there is of necessity a wound, however trivial, on the skin of the victim. Doctors, espeeially general practitioners and dermatologists, are frequently confronted by patients whose skin lesions appear to be due to the bite, sting or other activity of some arthropod. The identity of the arthropod responsible may or may not be obvious, but once a diagnosis of “insect bite” has been conveyed to the patient, questions will follow. What sort of creature is responsible? What does it look like? How or why did it attack the patient? What can be done about it? Will it happen again and how can it be avoided? Will it get better? This book is designed to answer these questions.