[Cutaneous loxoscelism mainly edematous: a case report]. / Loxoscelismo cutáneo predominantemente edematoso: a propósito de un caso.

In Chile, loxoscelism is caused by the bite of the Loxosceles laeta spider. The clinical presentation has two different forms: cutaneous loxoscelism (CL) and vicero-cutaneous loxoscelism, which is less frequent. Cutaneous loxoscelism includes an uncommon clinical variation (4%), called CL with edematous predominance (CLEP). We present a 5-year-old patient with sudden pain and edema on his right eyelid associated with fever, which progressed rapidly involving the right hemifacial area, frontal region, and left eyelid. Angioedema and pre-orbital cellulitis were discarded and CLEP was suspect. Cutaneous loxoscelism with an edematous predominance is self-limited, benign and with little or no necrotic injury due to the edema, which dilutes the toxin-induced enzymatic process causing necrosis. As in the reported cases it usually responds well to medical treatment and does not cause visceral involvement.

Loxoscelismo cutáneo predominantemente edematoso: a propósito de un caso / Cutaneous loxoscelism mainly edematous: a case report

In Chile, loxoscelism is caused by the bite of the Loxosceles laeta spider. The clinical presentation has two different forms: cutaneous loxoscelism (CL) and vicero-cutaneous loxoscelism, which is less frequent. Cutaneous loxoscelism includes an uncommon clinical variation (4%), called CL with edematous predominance (CLEP). We present a 5-year-old patient with sudden pain and edema on his right eyelid associated with fever, which progressed rapidly involving the right hemifacial area, frontal region, and left eyelid. Angioedema and pre-orbital cellulitis were discarded and CLEP was suspect. Cutaneous loxoscelism with an edematous predominance is self-limited, benign and with little or no necrotic injury due to the edema, which dilutes the toxin-induced enzymatic process causing necrosis. As in the reported cases it usually responds well to medical treatment and does not cause visceral involvement.

El loxoscelismo en Chile es un cuadro producido por la mordedura de la araña Loxosceles laeta. Las formas de presentación son: loxoscelismo cutáneo (LC) y loxoscelismo cutáneo-visceral (LCV), el último menos frecuente. Dentro del LC existe una variante poco común (4%) conocida como loxoscelismo cutáneo predominantemente edematoso (LCPE). Nuestro caso es un paciente de 5 años que consultó por cuadro de inicio súbito de dolor y edema palpebral derecho, asociado a fiebre el cual evolucionó con rápida progresión extendiéndose en la hemicara derecha, región frontal y párpado izquierdo. Se descartó un angioedema y una celulitis periorbitaria, sospechándose un LCPE. Se manejó con hidrocortisona y clorfenamina. El LCPE es un cuadro benigno, autolimitado, en que no está presente la lesión necrótica o ésta es insignificante. Predomina el edema, el cual abortaría la necrosis al diluir el proceso enzimático producido por el veneno. Tiene buena respuesta al tratamiento médico, con ausencia de compromiso visceral.