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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Microdissection of Black Widow Spider Silk-producing Glands
Published on: January 11, 2011
[Local dermonecrotic loxoscelism in children bitten by the spider Loxosceles reclusa (the "violin" spider)]
P Escalante-Galindo1, M A Montoya-Cabrera, V M Terroba-Larios
1Departamento de Admisión Continua y Toxicología, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, México, D.F.
Abstract:
This is an observational retrospective study. Our goal is to describe the local dermonecrotic reaction occurring after a spider bite in eleven pediatric patients. In seven (63.7%), the spider was identified as Loxosceles reclusa, and in four, bites were presumptive. The main symptoms and signs were pain, erythema, swelling, blisters, and vasculitis in five patients. There was a significant relationship between the time of onset before the treatment and the severity of the lesions (63.4 hours in the severe cases vs 14.4 hours in the mild cases, p < 0.05), as well the time spent in the emergency room (50 hours vs 10 hours respectively, p < 0.05). Treatment with dapsone, 1 mg/kg/24 h, and/or paracetamol and dicloxacillin was successful; one case required surgical treatment. No systemic loxoscelism occurred in this patient.

