Suspected Brown Recluse Envenomation: A Case Report And Review Of Different Treatment Modalities

Authors

• Rebecca J. Andersen, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University
• Jennifer Campoli, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical UniversityFollow
• Sandeep Johar, University of Rochester School of Medicine and DentistryFollow
• Katherine A. Schumacher, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University
• E. Jackson Allison Jr, Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Date of this Version

2011

Document Type

Article

Citation

The Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. e31–e37, 2011; doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.08.055

Abstract

Background: The Loxosceles reclusa, commonly known as the brown recluse spider, is responsible for virtually all cases of spider bites leading to a significant necrosis. Case Report: We report the case of a 72-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department complaining of back pain, weakness, and diarrhea. The patient stated that he sustained a bug bite 1 week before presenting to the hospital. His wound was necrotizing in nature and after an exhaustive work-up, the most likely etiology was found to be envenomation by a brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa. Conclusion: This is an endemic cause of a necrotizing wound bite in areas of the Midwestern and Southern United States, but it is rarely reported in the Northeast.