Latrodectismo en una paciente pediátrica / Latrodectism in a pediatric patient

Introducción: el conjunto de síntomas y signos provocados por la mordedura de la araña Latrodectus mactans, llamada viuda negra, se conoce como latrodectismo. En Cuba son escasos los estudios realizados y publicados al respecto. Solo se han reportado cuatro casos en adultos en un artículo del año 1998 y uno en un adolescente en el año 2006, todos de la provincia Ciego de Ávila.Objetivo: presentar el caso de una paciente pediátrica envenenada por la mordedura de una araña viuda negra, de interés por ser infrecuente.Presentación del caso: paciente femenina, de ocho años de edad, color de la piel blanco, residente en una zona suburbana del poblado Gaspar, municipio Baraguá, provincia Ciego de Ávila. Fue mordida por una araña pequeña, de color negro. Presentó mareos, dolor en el abdomen y el muslo izquierdo, y marcada palidez. Fue hospitalizada y posteriormente manifestó dolores en ambos miembros inferiores, entumecimiento, sudoración en pies y manos, e insomnio. Este cuadro clínico se mantuvo varios días. Los exámenes complementarios resultaron normales. En el electrocardiograma se detectó taquicardia sinusal. El tratamiento consistió en gluconato cálcico al 10 por ciento en perfusión endovenosa, sedación y alivio del dolor.Conclusiones: los médicos de las áreas rurales o suburbanas deben estar prevenidos ante la eventualidad de recibir pacientes con latrodectismo, debido al cuadro clínico inespecífico, que dificulta el diagnóstico. Sería conveniente la realización en Cuba de estudios toxicológicos acerca de Latrodectus mactans, por el problema de salud que entrañan su toxicidad y el no contar con el antídoto específico(AU)

Introduction: the set of symptoms and signs caused by the bite of the spider Latrodectus mactans, called black widow, is known as latrodectism. In Cuba there are few studies carried out and published in this regard. Only four cases have been reported in adults in an article of the year 1998 and one in a teenager in 2006, all of the province of Ciego de Ávila.Objective: to present the case of a pediatric patient poisoned by the bite of a black widow spider, of interest because it is infrequent.Case presentation: female patient, eight years old, white skin, resident in a suburban area of Gaspar village, Baraguá municipality, Ciego de Ávila province. She was bitten by a small, black spider. He presented dizziness, pain in the abdomen and left thigh, and marked pallor. She was hospitalized and later manifested pain in both lower limbs, numbness, sweating in hands and feet, and insomnia. This clinical picture remained several days. Complementary tests were normal. Electrocardiogram detected sinus tachycardia. The treatment consisted of 10 percent calcium gluconate in intravenous perfusion, sedation and pain relief.Conclusions: physicians in rural or suburban areas should be aware of the possibility of receiving patients with latrodectism, due to the nonspecific clinical picture, which makes diagnosis difficult. It would be convenient to carry out toxicological studies in Cuba about Latrodectus mactans, due to the health problem that implies its toxicity and not having the specific antidote(AU)

[Neurotoxic manifestations of black widow spider envenomation in paediatric patients]. / Manifestaciones de neurotoxicidad en el envenenamiento por mordedura de araña «viuda negra¼ en edades pediátricas.

INTRODUCTION: Envenomation by black widow spiders manifests clinically with signs of neurotoxicity in paediatric patients. OBJECTIVE: Identify typical neurological signs and symptoms in paediatric patients of different ages, and describe treatment and outcomes in a paediatric hospital in northwest Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 70 clinical records of patients hospitalised due to black widow spider bite between 1978 and 2014. We divided the total into 2 groups: Group 1, infants and preschool children; and Group 2, school-age children and adolescents. The demographic variables were age, sex, birthplace, place where envenomation occurred, body part(s) affected, degree of envenomation according to signs and symptoms, treatment, clinical outcome, and statistical differences. RESULTS: Boys accounted for 61.4% of all cases, and infants younger than one year old made up 14.2%. Most patients (70%) were bitten by the spider at home; the anatomical areas most frequently affected were the legs, neck, thorax, and abdomen. The neurological signs and symptoms displayed by Group 1 were irritability, constant crying, sialorrhoea, nausea, tachycardia, arrhythmias, fatigue when walking, agitation, muscle spasms paraesthesia, tetany, seizures, and nystagmus. Signs in Group 2 included localized pain, headache, sialorrhoea, paraesthesia, profuse sweating, anxiety, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, and fine tremor. The predominant autonomic sign in Group 1 was sialorrhoea (P<.0001) and in Group 2, paraesthesia (P<.0001). Patients who received Fab antivenom treatment displayed better outcomes and shorter hospital stays than those who did not. No deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The neurological signs and symptoms caused by black widow spider bite are predominantly autonomic, and identifying them permits early diagnosis and more effective treatment.

Envenenamiento en niños por mordedura de la araña Latrodectus Mactans (Viuda Negra): características clínicas y tratamiento / Poisoning caused by Latrodectus Mactans (Black Widow) spider bite among children: clinical features and therapy

Introducción: El envenenamiento por mordedura de araña viuda negra es poco frecuente en edades pediátricas sin embargo no está exento de complicaciones y si no se trata a tiempo puede causar la muerte. En México se desconoce el número exacto de estos accidentes. Objetivo: Identificar los signos y síntomas característicos, evolución y tratamiento de los niños atendidos por morderua de araña en el Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora, con el propósito de establecer el tratamiento oportuno. Material y Métodos: Se revisaron 43 expedientes de niños hospitalizados por mordedura de araña viuda negra entre 1978-2004, las variables consideradas fueron: edad, género, lugar de origen, sitio del accidente, área corporal afectada, tratamiento previo; grado de envenenamiento por signos y síntomas, tratamiento, evolución clínica. Resultados: Predominó el género masculino 69.7%; sin diferencias entre el número de menores de seis años, escolares y adolescentes. El 44 y 37% de los casos se presentaron en el verano y en horas de la tarde, respectivamente. El 74% de los pacientes tuvieron el contacto con el arácnido dentro del domicilio; las áreas anatómicas más afectadas fueron, miembros superiores y tronco; los signos y síntomas más notables en lactantes y preescolares fueron: irritabilidad, llanto constante, sialorrea, agitación, eritema en área de lesión convulsiones. En escolares y adolescentes fueron los signos y sínotmas dolor en sitio de lesión, dolor abdominal, dolor torácico, ansiedad, espasmos musculares y temblor fino. Los pacientes que recibieron tratamiento con faboterapia específica tuvieron mejor evolución y menor tiempo de hospitalización, cabe señalar que no se presentó mortalidad. Conclusiones: La adecuada identificación de los signos y síntomas ocasionados por la morderura de araña en lactantes y preescolares permite el diagnóstico oportuno y ofrece la mejor alternativa de tratamiento.

INTRODUCTION: Poisoning caused by black widow spider bite, is not commonly observed during childhood, it is not exempt from complications, and must be treated in time or the patient can die. In Mexico we do not have accurate data on the exact number of accidents due to this condition. OBJECTIVE: Identify the signs and characteristic symptoms of children treated at the Children's Hospital from the state of Sonora with the aim of starting early treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 43 clinical records of hospitalized patients admitted for black widow spider bite between 1978 - 2004. Demographic variables were: age, gender, place of origin, place where accident took place, treatment given prior to hospital admittance, degree of envenomation measured by signs and symptoms, treatment and clinical evolution. RESULTS: 69.7% of cases were male, we did not find differences in the number of patients between infant, pre-school, elementary school children and teenagers. During summer and afternoon hours we registered 44% and 37% cases respectively; 74% patients were poisoned by the spider at home; the anatomical areas most affected were: arms, hands and thorax. Signs and symptoms in infants were: irritability, constanty cry, sialorrea, agitation erythema on wounded areas and seizures. Among elementary school children and teenagers signs included pain in wounded area, abdominal and thoracic, muscle spasms, fine tremor and residual signs. Patients who received fabotherapic treatment had better evolution and less time of hospitalization. No deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The different signs and symptoms between infants, preschool, elementary school children and teenagers allowed us to clearly identify evenommation and differentiate it form confounding diseases. In our study, specific fabotherapy constituted the best treatment choice.