AI Article Synopsis
- The brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, is considered one of the less dangerous spider species in the U.S.
- A case is reported where a healthy individual experienced a severe reaction to a brown widow bite, requiring hospitalization.
- Symptoms included intense pain, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, and muscle twitching, prompting a need to reconsider the perceived threat level of brown widow bites.
Article Abstract
The brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, is one of five species of Latrodectus in the United States, and is reported to be one of the least dangerous. However, we report a previously healthy patient bitten by a brown widow, resulting in a serious reaction requiring hospitalization. Symptoms included severe pain, cramps, nausea/vomiting, and fasciculations in the pectoral and quadriceps muscles. This report signals a need to re-evaluate previously held ideas that brown widow bites are of minor consequence.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SMJ.0b013e31817f4d89 | DOI Listing |
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