Accidents with Loxosceles spiders in Laranjeiras do Sul – PR

Abstract

Loxosceles spiders are responsible for thousands of accidents in Brazil every year, being Parana the state with major number of cases notified to SINAN, responsible for over 35% of the cases in 2011. Its bite results in necrotic injuries in the skin which may turn in a difficult scarring ulcer. In extreme cases, those accidents may lead to death, due to its systemic action. Despite their great importance for public health, little is known about loxoscelic accidents in the countryside of Paraná. Thus, the objective of this work was to analyse the epidemiology of the registered cases of brown-spider bites in Laranjeiras do Sul, Parana, from 2006 to 2008, aiming the improvement of preventive measures and the diagnosis of loxoscelism. The data was collected in the Secretaria Municipal de Saúde of Laranjeiras do Sul, between the years 2006 and 2008. In this period, 0,13% of the population suffered from Loxosceles bites. Among the cases documented in this period, 42,5% took place in November and December with 70% in the urbane zone, being 85% of the accidents indoors. Regarding the victims, 67.5% were women, 22,5% of them, housekeepers. 46% of the spider bites were in the inferior member of the victim. The main symptoms were pain in the place of the bite (82,5%) and edema (80%). In most cases, the patients looked for medical care up to three hours after the accident (40%) or after 24 hours (37,5%). In conclusion, more studies should be performed to build the general epidemiologic panorama of spider bites in Paraná.