Une paralysie inhabituelle : piqûre par la veuve noire

Abstract

Introduction : The mediterranean black widow spider is a kind of latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus. It is found in the mediterranean bassin. Its bite causes a rare syndrome called lactrodectism. Observation : A moroccan patient, aged 17 years old, came to the emergency ward with severe pain in the right chest and fever, insect bites scar at the elbow. The evolution was favorable with antibiotics, antihistamines, and intravenous calcium. The discovery by the family in the patient’s room of the spider identified type Latrodectus has consolidated the diagnosis of spider bite. Discussion : Latrodectus tredecimguttatus is a spider that can be responsible of envenomation in humans. Its bite is almost painless. The α-neurotoxin protein latrotoxine is implicated in the onset of symptoms. this symptomatology is polymorphic, including a latrodectismica facies, with or without constitutional symptoms, painful symptoms, cardiovascular signs and digestive signs that represent the the most common pattern of consulting and most often a source of diagnostic errors. Latrodectism is a source of frequent misdiagnosis, surgical acute abdomen, colic, tetanus, meningitis, psychosis, myocardial infarction or opiate withdrawal syndrome inducing inappropriate treatment, often detrimental to the poisoned patient. Conclusion : This poisoning, although rare, must be known because it can lead to unnecessary therapeutic procedures, and even be potentially fatal for extremely aged people with extreme ages of life.