Citation

Shackleford R, Veillon D, Maxwell N, LaChance L, Jusino T, Cotelingam J, Carrington P. J. La. State Med. Soc. 2015; 167(2): 74-78.

Affiliation

Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Louisiana State Medical Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25978056

Abstract

Unrecognized and untreated black widow spider bites cause significant pain, impairment, and rarely death. The widow venom, a powerful neurotoxin known as a-latrotoxin, causes muscle pain, diaphoresis, tachycardia, flushing, and hypertension. Treatment is usually symptomatic with a combination of opioid analgesics and muscle relaxants. If symptom resolution fails, an equine IgG antiserum is available, but a high index of clinical suspicion coupled with a knowledgeable patient history often allows successful treatment, especially when the treating physician possesses awareness of this type of bite and its usual course and possible complications.

Language: en