A case of necrotising arachnidism

Abstract

Arachnidism is a clinical entity occuring as local or systemic manifestations after a spider bite. Bite of Loxosceles spiders causes a clinical reaction termed as loxoscelism. Cutaneous loxoscelism manifests as cutaneous necrosis whereas systemic symptoms and findings are observed in visserocutaneous loxoscelism. Tan to brown coloured Loxosceles species are commonly found in Mediterranian region, Africa and America. Since the spider or the bites may be unnoticed by the victim and the culprit may not be easily identified the characteristic clinical features have an important role for the diagnosis. The rarity of reports from our country and the presence of sporadic cases from our region led us to present a male patient with a diagnosis of necrotic arachnidism.