Latrodectism in a pediatric patient

Abstract

Introduction: the set of symptoms and signs caused by the bite of the spider Latrodectus mactans, called black widow, is known as latrodectism. In Cuba there are few studies carried out and published in this regard. Only four cases have been reported in adults in an article of the year 1998 and one in a teenager in 2006, all of the province of Ciego de Ávila.

Objective: to present the case of a pediatric patient poisoned by the bite of a black widow spider, of interest because it is infrequent.

Case presentation: female patient, eight years old, white skin, resident in a suburban area of Gaspar village, Baraguá municipality, Ciego de Ávila province. She was bitten by a small, black spider. He presented dizziness, pain in the abdomen and left thigh, and marked pallor. She was hospitalized and later manifested pain in both lower limbs, numbness, sweating in hands and feet, and insomnia. This clinical picture remained several days. Complementary tests were normal. Electrocardiogram detected sinus tachycardia. The treatment consisted of 10 % calcium gluconate in intravenous perfusion, sedation and pain relief.

Conclusions: physicians in rural or suburban areas should be aware of the possibility of receiving patients with latrodectism, due to the nonspecific clinical picture, which makes diagnosis difficult. It would be convenient to carry out toxicological studies in Cuba about Latrodectus mactans, due to the health problem that implies its toxicity and not having the specific antidote