Question - What are the clinical characteristics associated with the bite of the black widow spider (genus Latrodectus)?
Answer - The cited article notes “Initially pain, edema and erythema occur at the bite area, forming an annular lesion followed by latrodectism: a syndrome of generalized diaphoresis, extreme m muscle pain, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypertension, flushing, headache, nausea, anxiety and vomiting, and rarely, myocarditis and priapism.” (Shackelford R et. al. The black widow spider bite: Differential diagnosis, clinical manifestations and treatment options. 2015 J La State Med Soc 167:74-78)
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