Naslov
Latrodectus Bites in Northern Dalmatia, Croatia : Laboratory, Epidemiological, and Therapeutical Aspects

Autori
Dželalija, Boris ; Medić, Alan

Izvornik
Croatian medical journal (0353-9504) 44 (2003), 3; 135-138

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
antitoxins; black widow spider; pain; toxins

Sažetak
Aim was to analyze clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the black widow spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus)bites and asses the impact of an titoxin administration after the bite on the intensity and duration of pain. Retrospective analysis of clinical appearance, laboratory findings, and clinical assess ment of the antitoxin admin is tra tion ef fi cacy in 32 pa tients with latrodectism treated at Zadar General Hospital between 1992 and 2002. All patients presented with generalized pain, profound perspiration, and burning in the sole of the foot. Laboratory findings revealed moderately increased serum glucose concentrations in half of the patients, concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase 2 to 3 times higher than normal in 8 of 32 patients, moderate leukocytosis in 16 of 32 patients, mature neutrophilia in 15 of 32 patients, and immatureforms of leukocytes in 4 of 32 patients. In 21 patients who received the antitoxin, severe pain lasted 1-4 h (me dian, 1.2 h) after the antitoxin admin istration, moderate pain 1-5 h (me dian, 2.4 h), and hospitalization 1-5 days (me dian, 4 days). In patients who did not receive antitoxin, there was a statistically significant increase in duration of severe pain (median, 50 h ; range, 24-72 h), moderate pain (median, 36 h ; range, 24-48 h), and hospital izolation (median, 6 days ; range, 4-12 days) (p<0.05 for all, Kruskal-Wallis H test). Men were more of ten bitten by the venomous spider (20 men vs 12 women) ; adults more of ten than children (30 vs 2, re spectively), domestic population more of ten than tour ists (30 vs 2, respectively), and rural main land inhabitants more of ten than is landers (21 vs 11, respectively). All biting in i ents oc urred between June and September, most of ten in July (17 pa tients). Latrodectism in Northern Dalmatia presents with severe clinical symptoms. Administration of the anti-toxin is advisable in the treat ment of all af flicted patients.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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