ABSTRACT

More than 200 species of spiders produce toxic venoms that can cause skin lesions, systemic illnesses, neurotoxicity and death. Black widow spiders (Latrodectus sp.) are distributed worldwide and can cause latrodectism. We report a rare case of a previously healthy 11 years old boy who developed acute severe hypertension caused by the spider’s envenomation. Photographic consultation with an expert in this field revealed the spider as a member of Latrodectus genus.

Keywords: Spider, Hypertension, Black Widow, Latrodectism, Latrodectus