[Spider bite in a child].
A 4-year-old girl was admitted 30 hours after being bitten by a black widow spider. The presenting symptoms were restlessness, profuse perspiration, severe abdominal pain and fever, while hypertension, hematuria and ECG changes developed later. Treatment was with intravenous fluids only, and she recovered completely and was discharged after a week. According to the literature, management includes muscle relaxants, such as methocarbamal and diazepam, and intravenous calcium gluconate is recommended by some. We found pharmacological intervention unnecessary in this case, but in severe cases and in pregnancy black widow antiserum is indicated. The overall mortality rate 5-10%.
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D000818:Animals; D001740:Black Widow Spider; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy