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. 2024 Jan 15:33:e2023568.
doi: 10.1590/S2237-96222024v33e2023568.en. eCollection 2024.

Brown spiders (Loxosceles) are taking hold in Pernambuco, Brazil: a case series, 2018-2022

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Maria Lucineide Porto Amorim  1 , Diógenes Gayo de Oliveira Simão  2 , João Paulo Vieira E Silva de Albuquerque  3 , Beatriz Maria Tenório Ramos  3 , Gustavo José Lopes do Nascimento  3 , Maria Júlia Gonçalves de Mello  4
Affiliations

Brown spiders (Loxosceles) are taking hold in Pernambuco, Brazil: a case series, 2018-2022

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Maria Lucineide Porto Amorim et al. Epidemiol Serv Saude. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

Objective: To describe accidents involving brown spider (genus Loxosceles) bites notified by the Pernambuco Poison Information and Care Center (CIATox-PE), Brazil, from January 2018 to December 2022.

Methods: This was a case series study of brown spider bites notified by the CIATox-PE.

Results: The study included 22 cases with median age of 35 years, the majority being female (13); the cases occurred in rural and urban areas (12 versus 10), at night (10); Petrolina was the municipality with the highest number of notifications (6); spider bites occurred mainly in the lower (11) and upper (9) limbs, almost exclusively inside households (21); specific serum therapy was not indicated for 8 cases because the time for its effectiveness had already elapsed.

Conclusion: Loxoscelism cases occurred more frequently in females, in both rural and urban areas and mainly at home, with delays in seeking medical care.

Main results: The 22 cases described represent an alert for the presence of a venomous species not reported in previous studies in Pernambuco. The severity of cases may be associated with delays in seeking medical care, especially due to the population's lack of information.

Implications for services: Identify the presence of brown spiders in households in the region and the potential severity of poisonings. Alert health professionals to recognize the clinical picture with a view to appropriate early treatment.

Perspectives: Develop research on poisoning by venomous animals and educational actions alerting the population to prevent these accidents and updating health professionals on care.

Objetivo: Describir accidentes causados ​​por arañas pardas (género Loxosceles) notificados por el Centro de Información de Asistencia Toxicológica de Pernambuco (CIATox-PE), Brasil, de enero de 2018 a diciembre de 2022.

Métodos: Reporte de 22 casos notificados de CIATox-PE.

Resultados: Casos con media de idade de 35 años, predominio femenino (13); los casos ocurrieron en área rural/urbana (12 versus 10), por la noche (10); Petrolina fue el municipio con más notificaciones (6); las picaduras fueron principalmente en los miembros inferiores (11) y superiores (9), casi exclusivamente en el interior de las viviendas (21); en 8 de los casos no se indicó sueroterapia específica por haber superado el tiempo de efecto.

Conclusión: Los casos de loxoscelismo ocurrieron con mayor frecuencia en el sexo femenino, en áreas rurales y urbanas, y principalmente en el hogar, con demoras en la búsqueda de atención médica.

Objetivo: Descrever os acidentes por picada de aranhas-marrons (gênero Loxosceles), notificados no Centro de Informação de Assistência Toxicológica de Pernambuco (CIATox-PE), Brasil, no período de 2018 a 2022.

Métodos: Estudo de série, sobre casos notificados no CIATox-PE.

Resultados: Foram incluídos 22 casos com mediana de idade de 35 anos e houve predomínio do sexo feminino (13); os casos ocorreram nas zonas rural e urbana (12 versus 10), durante a noite (10), e Petrolina foi o município com mais notificações (6); as picadas ocorreram, principalmente, nos membros inferiores (11) e superiores (9), quase exclusivamente dentro das residências (21); para 8 acidentados, não se prescreveu soroterapia específica por terem ultrapassado o tempo de efetividade.

Conclusão: Os casos de loxoscelismo ocorreram com maior frequência no sexo feminino, nas zonas rural e urbana indiferentemente, quase todos foram intradomiciliares e houve demora na procura por atendimento médico.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Distribution of DATATOXa loxoscelism notifications, by month and year of occurrence, Pernambuco, Brazil, 2018-2022
Figure 2
Figure 2. Geographic distribution of loxoscelism cases notified by the CIATox-PE,a Pernambuco, Brazil, 2018-2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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