Estudo retrospectivo de latrodectismo na Bahia, Brasil

Abstract

This work is a retrospective study of latrodectism in the State of Bahia, Brazil, from August 1980 to July 1990. The data concerning the accidents were obtained from file cards at the Antivenom Information Center of Bahia (AVICB). Latrodectus curacavienis was the ethiologic agent identified in 28% of the arachnid accidents. The major incidence was registered in urban area (57%) affecting men (70%) more than women, with 10 to 29 year-old age group (58%). Local pain (56%), erythematous papula (29%) and light oedema (17%) were the principal local symptoms. Pain in the limbs (29%), tremor and rigidities (29%), sweating (28%), limbs and arms paresthesia (21%) and abdominal pain (17%) were systemic ones. The treatment was mainly symptomatic (67%) and antivenin serum was used in 21% of the cases. After serotherapy, 64% of the patients left the hospital within less than 24 hours.

Accidents With Poisonous Animals in Brazil by Age and Sex

“…6,16 Regarding phoneutrism and latrodectism, most of the accidents occurred to men (59.42% and 55.35% of cases, respectively), probably due to the greater male presence in agricultural activities in rural areas and in others (gardening and weeding) in the cities. 6,12 In conclusion, because of approximately 115,000 cases per year in Brazil, accidents with snakes, scorpions and spiders have great importance in public health. There is a progressive increase of poisoning from the first year of age until the age of 20-39 years followed by a decrease in the number of cases.…”

“…Children under 10 years are the most vulnerable group. 6. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health is mainly interested in the next three genera of spiders 6,12 : Phoneutria (wandering spider), Loxosceles (brown spider) and Latrodectus (widow spider). The most important form of poisoning by spider in Brazil is the bite of the brown spider brown (Loxosceles), which presents the most lethal poison (lethality rate of 0.05%) and is responsible for the most accidents (loxoscelism) in the south of the country.…”

Arachnids of medical importance in Brazil: main active compounds present in scorpion and spider venoms and tick saliva

“…Worldwide, more than 40 species of the genus Latrodectus are found in tropical and subtropical regions . In Brazil, only three species occur: L. geometricus , L. mactans and L. curacaviensis , which inhabit mainly the northeast region [ 102 , 103 ]. However, the presence of another specie, L. mirabilis , was recently described in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul [ 104 ].…”

“…The bites of these spiders, known as black widows, provoke clinical manifestations that include pain, hypertension, spasms, “facies latrodectismica”, vomiting, abdominal pain and muscle cramping. In severe cases, the patient may present myocardial infarction and compartment syndrome [ 102 , 105 ].…”

Chemical Control of Spiders and Scorpions in Urban Areas

“…The subadult male caused severe pain for 12 hours, but with no systemic effects [56]. In a 10-year (1980−1990) retrospective analysis of latrodectism in Brazil, Lira da Silva et al [57] reported that most widow bites occurred in cities, affected predominantly men, and were most commonly inflicted by L. curacaviensis. Certain members of the genus are increasingly being detected in new and widely separated localities.…”