Black widow spider bite

Calcium chloride and gluconate - A6 unct /e therapy in the treatment of insect bites or stings, such as Black Widow spider bites to relieve muscle cramping sensitivity reactions, particularly when characterized by urticaria depression due to overdosage of magnesium sulfate acute symptoms of lead colic rickets osteomalacia. 

Priapism is an abnormal, painful, and persistent erection, not related to sexual arousal, which can be caused by a variety of conditions (e.g., neurological, hematological, local trauma, and scorpion or black widow spider bites). Its occurrence also has been associated with various drugs, including the following ... 

Black widow spider bite Antivenin (Latrodectus mactans), equine One vial (6000 units) IV or IM. For persons with hypertensive cardiovascular disease or age < 16 or > 60 years. 

A 10.0% solution of Ca(CgHjjOy)2 is sometimes administered intravenously in emergency treatment for black widow spider bites. 

Several toxic proteins act as neurotoxins by disrupting the activity of synapses. (A synapse is a junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle cell.) The pain, tremors, and irritability that result from black widow spider bites are caused by a-latrotoxin (125,000 D). This molecule, a single polypeptide, stimulates a massive release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). In contrast, ACh release is inhibited by botulinum toxin, a mixture of several proteins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulism, a malady most commonly caused by eating contaminated canned food, is characterized by vomiting, dizziness, and sometimes paralysis and death. A related species,... 

Black widow spider antivenin, which provides immune globuhns that specihcally bind black widow spider venom, is used in black widow spider bites (see also Figure 12). 

Lactrodectus mactans (lactrodectism is produced by a bite from the female spider). The female is larger than the male. It is noted for a black color that is shiny, with a rounded abdomen and a red hourglass mark on the ventral surface. The black widow spider produces neurotoxic venom. Alpha latrotoxin is the protein of the neurotoxin. 

Exposure is usually through a painful bite, although the bite may occasionally go unnoticed until symptoms develop. The mechanism of action of black widow spider venom involves binding of the ganglio-sides and glycoproteins of the motor end plate in the neuromuscular junction, which affects the opening of sodium channels and the release of acetylcholine (Ach) and norepinephrine. This results in excessive stimulation and allows for penetration and circulation of the venom into the lymphatic system. 

Black Widow spider venom contains several different protein fractions. The most significant component of the venom is the neurotoxin, a-latrotoxin. This neurotoxin acts at the presynaptic membrane of the neuronal and the neuromuscular junctions. The binding of the a-latrotoxin results in the opening of nonspecific cation channels, a massive influx of calcium, release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine and decreased uptake of the neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter release is most likely responsible for hypertension, muscle fasciculations, and spasms frequently experienced by victims of a bite. Later, generalized muscle weakness and labored breathing may develop in severe cases. While the venom of the black widow spider has been characterized as being more potent than that of many poisonous snakes, the small amount of venom injected limits the degree of toxicity. 

A. Severe pain associated with black widow spider envenomation, rattlesnake envenomation, or other bites or stings. 

All types of organisms contain chemicals, some of which are toxic and dangerous. For example, we all know about the bite of a rattlesnake or black widow spider their bites are poisonous because they cause specific toxic effects in our nervous systems. Therefore, it isn t surprising that there are natural ingredients in our foods that result in toxic effects if enough is eaten. In fact, these natural chemicals... 

Antivenins are used for passive, transient protection from the toxic effects of bites by spiders (black widow and similar spiders) and snakes (rattlesnakes, copperhead and cottonmouth, and coral). The most effective response is obtained when the drug is administered within 4 hours after exposure... 

The red back spider, found in Australia, which was responsible for deaths of adults (5 per cent of those bitten died) and especially of children before antivenin became available. One of the favourite haunts of the red back is underneath toilet seats, so bites on the backside and in the crotch are not uncommon There are several thousand victims annually in Austraha. The symptoms are similar to those caused by the black widow, and pain can be very severe. 

There are five representative species of the widow spider in the United States. The species are the Black Widow (L. mactans, L. hesperus, L. variolus). Red Widow (L. bishopi), and the Brown Widow (L. geometricus). The five species of Loxosceles documented to produce necrotic bites are L. arizonica, L. deserta, L. laeta, L. reclusa, and L. rufescens. The L. reclusa is responsible for most cases of clinical significance of necrotic arachnidism. 

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