It was probably not the attitude to have a dangerous spider. In California, a young woman has undergone intoxication to the Viduan Black vend, by her eye, in an unexpected way.
Hammer vs venom, an unequal fight
Last June, a couple discovered a beautiful black spider in a delivery of their house. Arachnid is identified. It is a western black widow (Latrodectus Hesperus), very undesirable because dangerous. In a gesture “half-bourrin semi-heroic”, the husband then seized a hammer to crush the “intruder. But this fan of Thor was not right to use such a arsenal …
Admittedly, the spider did not survive, but the violence of the impact projected fragments of his body all around … including one in the left eye of his 37 -year -old wife, which was quick to react.
A quick chain reaction
As rare as it may seem, it was enough for the venom of the intruder to enter the blood circulation and reach other parts of the body of the collateral victim. An emergency visit quickly established itself. Upon arrival the patient had a fairly local reaction:
- Swelling of the upper and lower eyelids of the left eye;
- Burning sensation;
- Swollen connective.
But the situation quickly deteriorated with a chronological evolution typical of poisoning with black widow’s vend:
- Progressive ocular swelling until almost complete closure;
- Appearance of cervical pain and nausea;
- Development of abdominal, femoral cramps and in the calves.
- Tingling in the ends.
Symptoms linked to the neurological effects of alpha-latrotoxin, the main active substance of the black widow’s vend. This neurotoxin disrupts the release of neurotransmitters, which explains the variety of clinical manifestations.
Know the dangers of spiders
Fortunately, in most cases (and despite a scary name), black widowed bites are not fatal.
In order to limit the inflammatory reaction, the medical team administered 50 mg of Benadryl, an antihistamine which quickly reduced ocular edema. Treatment with intravenous infusion of calcium gluconate was also proposed, but the patient chose to refuse it. She left the hospital three hours later with a hydrocortisone-based eye drops (steroidal anti-inflammatory), as well as an antibiotic. Almost 48 hours later, she was no longer swollen. The cramps stopped after 72 hours.
But if this case surprises medicine, it is not by its exposure to the spider (2,600 cases are identified each year in the United States) but by the particular toxicity of the spider. In all parts of his body it seems. “”Contact with a black widow, or with any part of her body, represents a potential danger “ recall the doctors.
And in France, are spiders dangerous?
Do you think you are largely sheltered, far from California? Don’t be so sure. In our regions, it is possible to meet a wide variety of spiders. Among the most common are the Tegenales, often present in the dwellings and sometimes implicated in cases of bites. You can also meet the cheiracanthes, the Lycose de Taranto (or Tarentule), the violin spider, as well as the Mediterranean Black Widow, locally called Malmignatte, particularly present in Corsica. The three most dangerous are:
False Widow (false black widow)
- Painful bite (like a wasp bite), but rarely serious.
- Possible symptoms:
- Redness, local swelling, nausea, headache (extreme cases).
- Risk of infection if scratching.
- South of France, but also cities (Paris, Bordeaux, etc.).
© Marco Polo’s Rhino/Shutterstock
False widow
Brunette recluse (Loxosceles Rufescens)
- Necrotizing bite (rare but serious)
- Skin lesion evolving in ulcer in 48-72 hours.
- Fever, fatigue (if systemic reaction)
- Méditerranée (PACA, Corsica), but also in heated houses.
© Macrolife/Shutterstock
Rufescens loxosceles
European widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus)
- Painful bite (like a wasp bite)
- Can cause a Latrodectisme (avennimation)
- Possible symptoms:
- Live pain, similar to a needle bite, followed by more dull pain, sometimes numb
- Mainly in the South (Corsica, PACA).
© Oleg Kovtun Hydrobio/Shutterstock
European widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus)
“The European Black Widow is mainly present in the South, especially in Corsica and in the PACA region. It can cause a latrodecticism, an envenation characterized by muscle pain, cramps and neurological symptoms” Specifies Dr. Kierzek.
As for other spiders, “They can bite, but their venom is not dangerous for humans. At worst, there is a local reaction, comparable to an insect bite“.
React well in case of bite
Although its bites are very rare, they can, in some people, cause more or less severe symptoms a few hours later: abdominal or lumbar pain, agitation, tension fall, intense anxiety state, even feeling of imminent death.
In exceptional cases where reactions become serious, urgent medical management is essential. The treatment is then based on an intravenous injection of calcium gluconate, which makes it possible to quickly disappear symptoms.
Faced with a spider bite, the recommendations are simple: quickly disinfect the area concerned with water and soap or using an antiseptic solution. You can suck up the venom using an aspi-venin. Depending on the individual reaction, repeat the operation for a few days. If you observe a particular responsiveness (swelling of the area, other unexpected symptoms), quickly make an appointment with your doctor.
“Clean the wound with water and soap, disinfect with an antiseptic, apply cold locally to limit inflammation, then monitor the evolution“. But be careful not to trivialize the signs of alert.”Erythema that exceeds 10 centimeters, the appearance of fever, discomfort, muscle pain, or local necrosis or signs of infection should encourage to consult without delay “specifies Dr. Kierzek.