Latrodectism: variations in clinical manifestations provoked by Latrodectus species of spiders.

The clinical picture caused by the bite of Latrodectus spp. is described, including the patient's general condition with agonizing pains, cramps, spasms, motor unrest, boardlike abdomen, "facies latrodectismica", sweating, oliguria, hypertension, anxiety, mental excitation and an extended convalescence. The notorious biters are mainly L. mactans, L. variolus, L. hesperus, L. tredecimguttatus, L. hasselti, L. indistinctus and L. menavodi, all of which appear to provoke somewhat similar clinical pictures. For some species, however, there is limited data and for the toxicity of some spiders, such as L. rhodesiensis, no data are available, However, it would appear that the clinical manifestations of the venom are similar in all species.