Quadriplegia as a Rare Complication of Black Widow Spider Envenomation
Year: 2020
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Background: Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, generally known as black widow spider (BWS), bite can cause a variety of symptoms including muscular spasm, back pain, abdominal pain, severe sweating, and shivering. The bite brings weakness too; however, quadriplegia has not been mentioned in the literature. Case Presentation: Here, we present a 42-year-old male case with BWS bite who developed muscle weakness and paralysis in the four limbs. The patient needed mechanical ventilation. Nerve conduction velocity reported myopathy in the patient. The patient could eventually walk after 45 days of supportive treatment. Conclusion: It can be hypothesized that quadriplegia may happen due to the vast acetylcholine depletion.
DOI: 10.5812/hmj.106714
Authors: Bita Dadpour, Alireza Ghodsi, Helia Farham
Institution: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3102413480