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Le Roux G, Richard V, Larcher G, Sinno-Tellier S, Labadie M, de Haro L, Descatha A. Spider bites in France: Epidaemiology of cases occurring in 10 years in metropolitan France. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 36:159-167. [PMID: 34910823 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Spiders are often wrongly designated as responsible for cutaneous eruptions. We aim to describe spider bites and the spider species implicated in metropolitan France. A retrospective observational study was conducted for all reported cases of spider bites from 2007 to 2018 extracted from the French Poison Control Centers (PCCs) information system, after exclusion of non-native spiders. We described identification of the spider, level of certainty of the bite, symptoms and severity of cases. 1194 cases of spider bites met the inclusion criteria. The average age of the patients was 36.9 ± 19.8 years. Identification of the species or at least that a spider was implicated was only possible in 346 cases (29.0%). Loxosceles were involved in 53 cases (4.4%), Latrodectus in 46 cases (3.9%) and Cheiracanthium in 35 cases (2.9%). In one third of cases, the involved spider was not known to be present where the bite occurred. Where most of the patients (n = 1111, 93%) reported at least one cutaneous symptom, most of the symptoms were neurological. The bite was considered proven in only 242 cases (20%). Despite the efforts of arachnologists to educate the public, the fear of spiders is still alive in France, where spider bite is rare with low severity and often unproven.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Le Roux
- Centre Antipoison et Toxicovigilance Grand Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France
- Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement, Travail (IRSET, Inserm UMR_S 1085), Université d'Angers-Équipe ESTER, Angers, France
| | - Virginie Richard
- Centre Antipoison et Toxicovigilance Grand Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France
| | - Gérald Larcher
- Département d'Enseignements Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Sandra Sinno-Tellier
- Direction des Alertes et des Vigilances Sanitaires, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de L'alimentation, de L'environnement et du Travail, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Magali Labadie
- Centre Antipoison et Toxicovigilance, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Bordeaux, France
| | - Luc de Haro
- Centre Antipoison et Toxicovigilance, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Alexis Descatha
- Centre Antipoison et Toxicovigilance Grand Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France
- Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement, Travail (IRSET, Inserm UMR_S 1085), Université d'Angers-Équipe ESTER, Angers, France
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Fusto G, Bennardo L, Duca ED, Mazzuca D, Tamburi F, Patruno C, Nisticò SP. Spider bites of medical significance in the Mediterranean area: misdiagnosis, clinical features and management. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2020; 26:e20190100. [PMID: 33061945 PMCID: PMC7534902 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the disrepute spiders have had for centuries, their bite is a rare
occurrence. In the Mediterranean area, only two of the numerous known species
are considered of medical significance: Latrodectus
tredecimguttatus and Loxosceles rufescens. Spider
bites have no pathognomonic signs or symptoms, therefore most diagnoses are
presumptive; a spider bite can only be diagnosed when a spider (seen at the time
of the bite) is collected and identified by an expert, since most physicians and
patients are unable to recognize a certain spider species or distinguish spiders
from other arthropods. Skin lesions of uncertain etiology are too often
attributed to spider bites. In most cases, these are actually skin and
soft-tissue infections, allergic reactions, dermatoses etc. Misdiagnosing a
wound as a spider bite can lead to delays in appropriate care, cause adverse or
even fatal outcomes and have medical-legal implications. Concerningly,
misinformation on spider bites also affects the medical literature and it
appears there is lack of awareness on current therapeutic indications for
verified bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Fusto
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Luigi Bennardo
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ester Del Duca
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy.,Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Daniela Mazzuca
- Unit of Forensic Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Federica Tamburi
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Cataldo Patruno
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Steven Paul Nisticò
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
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