[Steatoda spider envenomation in southern France]. / Un cas de stéatodisme observé en Languedoc après morsure d'araignée du genre Steatoda.

INTRODUCTION: Cobweb spiders (genus Steatoda) are small species closely related to black widow spiders and their bites can induce envenomation known as steatodism. CASE: A 46-year-old man in the Gard district in southern France was sleeping in his bed when a spider (identification Steatoda triangulosa) bit him. Clinical manifestations included local signs together with systemic neurological symptoms resembling low-grade latrodectism (black widow envenomation). DISCUSSION: This first-recorded case of steatodism in southern France differs in several ways from the classic pattern of latrodectism in Europe: the bite occurred in home during winter and mild symptoms resolved quickly without hospital care. CONCLUSION: In endemic areas (in France the Mediterranean climate zone: Provence, Languedoc and Corsica), steatodism should be considered when low-grade latrodectism is observed.

Poisoning by Coriaria myrtifolia Linnaeus: a new case report and review of the literature.

Coriaria myrtifolia should be recognized as one of the most neurotoxic plants in western Mediterranean area. This shrub produces a toxin, coriamyrtin, that is present in high concentrations in the berries. Ingestion of few fruits similar to blackberries may induce digestive and neurological manifestations including seizures, coma and apnea. The authors present a new case report that took place in the French Catalonia: an 8 year-old boy developed vomiting and generalized recurrent convulsions after ingestion of C. myrtifolia berries. He needed repeated diazepam administrations and was managed in the hospital. He recovered after one day of benzodiazepine treatment. In order to evaluate the consequences of C. myrtifolia poisoning, 83 cases of the literature were analyzed: the cases occurred in three countries (Spain, France and Morocco); the mean delay of the symptom development was 150 min; the neurological disturbances were the most frequent signs and 11 patients died (6 children, 5 adults) mainly in old reports.