title: A clinical and epidemiological study of Loxosceles spider envenoming in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
abstract: A clinical and epidemiological study of 267 cases of envenomation by Loxosceles spp. (loxoscelism), notified to Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State, Brazil), was conducted between January 1985 and December 1995. Most of the incidents occurred along the coast of the mid-southern region of the state, during the warmest months. L. laeta and L. intermedia were identified as the causative agents. Cutaneous loxoscelism was clinically diagnosed in 232 (86.9%) patients with local pain (86.5%), oedema (80.5%), hyperaemia (79.8%) and necrosis (56.9%). Cutaneous-visceral loxoscelism was detected in 35 patients (13.1%) with intravascular haemolysis, manifested by jaundice (68.6%), oliguria (45.7%), dark urine (28.6%), haemorrhage (25.7%), anuria (8.6%) and shock (2.9%), besides the cutaneous effects. Specific antivenom was given to 125 patients (46.8%) and only 8 (6.5%) had mild reactions. Acute renal failure was observed in 17 cases (6.4%); 4 patients (1.5%) died, all of whom were children under 14 years old.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Informações Toxicológicas, Hospital Universitário, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Sezerino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zannin
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonçalves Júnior
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grando
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mattosinho
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: von Eickstedt
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000997:Antivenins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D013111:Spider Venoms