- Italy's Fatalities: Assessing the Threat Posed by the Violin Spider
Within a brief span, two individuals in Italy met their demise following encounters with the brown violin spider. This arachnid species, Loxosceles rufescens, thrives across the Mediterranean region, especially in popular tourist destinations like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. As the summer season reaches its midpoint, concerns about the brown violin spider have escalated substantially. But just how harmful is this spider, whose size ranges from 7.5 to 9 millimeters, depending on gender?
The brown violin spider's venom may be potent, but not as deadly as one might think, claims Maurizio Soave, head of the poison control unit at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Initial bites are often painless, with itching and pain only emerging later. Within a few hours, small blisters and redness may develop around the bite site as well.
Bacterial Transmission
Besides its venom, the brown violin spider can also introduce bacteria into the affected tissue, potentially leading to infections with severe consequences. In the event of such an infection, a slow-growing necrosis might occur around the bite site, resulting in tissue damage and the formation of deep, challenging-to-heal wounds. Serious infections, including sepsis, could subsequently develop.
Such outcomes are, however, extremely uncommon, according to the Pavia-based Antivenom Center. In most cases, inhabitants of the Mediterranean region encounter no complications following a bite. This is particularly true for individuals without pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes or allergies. Unfortunately, children and the elderly are thought to be more susceptible.
Two Recent Fatal Incidents in Italy
In the grim wake of these incidents, a 52-year-old man in Sicily succumbed to a bite from the brown violin spider. Tragically, this was followed by the death of a 23-year-old in the Apulian region of southern Italy, who passed away one month after being bitten by a violin spider. His cause of death was confirmed as septic shock and organ failure.
Generally, the brown violin spider tends to reside in burrows and prefers arid soil. It only bites when it perceives a threat. Experts advise users to clean the wound with water and soap after any bite, with the recommendation for severe itching or redness to use corticosteroid ointment or antibiotics.
The aforementioned fatal incidents in Italy have raised questions and concerns within the medical community, prompting the Italian Commission for Drug Agencies and Medical Devices to allocate additional resources for research on the brown violin spider and its impact on human health.
Given the rarity of severe outcomes, it is crucial for the general public to be well-informed about the symptoms and appropriate responses to a brown violin spider bite, as advised by the Italian Commission for Risk Assessment and Crisis Management.
