[Local dermonecrotic loxoscelism in children bitten by the spider Loxosceles reclusa (the "violin" spider)].

Abstract

This is an observational retrospective study. Our goal is to describe the local dermonecrotic reaction occurring after a spider bite in eleven pediatric patients. In seven (63.7%), the spider was identified as Loxosceles reclusa, and in four, bites were presumptive. The main symptoms and signs were pain, erythema, swelling, blisters, and vasculitis in five patients. There was a significant relationship between the time of onset before the treatment and the severity of the lesions (63.4 hours in the severe cases vs 14.4 hours in the mild cases, p < 0.05), as well the time spent in the emergency room (50 hours vs 10 hours respectively, p < 0.05). Treatment with dapsone, 1 mg/kg/24 h, and/or paracetamol and dicloxacillin was successful; one case required surgical treatment. No systemic loxoscelism occurred in this patient.