title: Severe reaction from envenomation by the brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus (Araneae: Theridiidae).
abstract: The brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, is one of five species of Latrodectus in the United States, and is reported to be one of the least dangerous. However, we report a previously healthy patient bitten by a brown widow, resulting in a serious reaction requiring hospitalization. Symptoms included severe pain, cramps, nausea/vomiting, and fasciculations in the pectoral and quadriceps muscles. This report signals a need to re-evaluate previously held ideas that brown widow bites are of minor consequence.
authors.affiliation: Mississippi Department of Health, and the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Jackson, MS 39215, USA. jeromegoddard10@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Upshaw
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000209:etiology; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013112:Spiders / Q000145:classification*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology