title: Necrotic arachnidism of the eyelid due to Loxosceles rufescens spider bite.
abstract: A 69-year-old woman was awakened with redness and swelling of the left upper eyelid a few days before her presentation. She also noticed a dead spider on her bed. Ophthalmic examination revealed severe left periorbital hyperemia, edema and a wide necrotic area on the upper eyelid. Systemic condition of the patient was well. She was hospitalized with the diagnosis of necrotic arachnidism of the left upper eyelid. Systemic corticosteroid and antibiotic treatment was commenced. No surgical intervention was carried out. A week later, whole upper eyelid was covered with a black eschar. This black eschar shrank with time, and it detached completely within 8 weeks and the lesion healed without a disfiguring scar. Meanwhile, the offending spider was identified as Loxosceles rufescens. Although rare, eyelid may be a biting site for Loxosceles spiders and a favorable result may be obtained with conservative management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. meltem.soylev@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Meltem Soylev
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bajin
authors.forename: Gul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parlak
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tuncok
authors.forename: Nazife
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yigit
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Durak
authors.forename: Ali Osman
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Saatci
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents