https://doi.org/10.4081/amsa.2024.38

Loxosceles rufescens: single-institutional epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024)
Submitted: 24 October 2023
Accepted: 22 December 2023
Published: 22 January 2024
Loxosceles rufescens, violin spider, toxicology, venom, dermal lesion
Abstract Views: 202
PDF: 98
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Authors

  • Francesco Coletta Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Simone Esposito • simone.esposito89@libero.it Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Giovanna Di Maiolo Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Filomena Lo Chiatto Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
  • Mariarosaria Cuomo Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Giovanna Paola De Marco Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Pasqualina Amitrano Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Crescenzo Sala Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Antonio Tomasello Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Romolo Villani Burns Intensive Care Unit and Poison Control Center, “A. Cardarelli” Hospital, Naples, Italy.

Loxosceles rufescens, also known as “violin spider” due to its characteristic appearance, is a medium-sized spider species that can potentially pose a threat to humans. For this study, patients who presented to our hospital’s Poison Control Center between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, and met the following inclusion criteria were included: Suspicion of a violin spider bite, as evaluated by our center. Our protocol involves an initial local treatment, which includes local washing with copious water and disinfection, along with the application of chlorotetracycline hydrochloride. Systemic therapy utilizes Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid as the first-line medication. The primary endpoints of this study are the timing and effectiveness of the treatment for cutaneous lesions. Demographic and anamnestic information regarding age, gender, and timelines was summarized using descriptive methods. Our study’s results indicate that erythema and pain are the most frequent symptoms. Loxoscelism is highly concentrated in the Western hemisphere and is considered the only proven arachnological cause of dermo-necrosis. In recent years, there has been an increase in diagnoses.

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How to Cite

Coletta, F., Esposito, S., Di Maiolo, G., Lo Chiatto, F., Cuomo, M., De Marco, G. P., Amitrano, P., Sala, C., Tomasello, A., & Villani, R. (2024). <i>Loxosceles rufescens</i>: single-institutional epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. Acute Care Medicine Surgery and Anesthesia, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/amsa.2024.38
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