A 3-year-old child is admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital. The child exhibits extreme salivation, lacrimation, tremors, and tachycardia. The slight erythema and mild edema found on the child's hand suggest a spider bite. The mother acknowledges that the child has a fascination with spiders and has seen black widow spiders in the yard. The neurotoxic venom of the black widow spider (i.e., latrotoxin or latrophilin) can increase the flux of calcium ions into the presynaptic terminal. What is the likely outcome of a black widow spider bite?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The neurotoxic venom of the black widow spider causes an increased flux of calcium ions into the presynaptic terminal, leading to increased acetylcholine release from nerve terminals. This can result in the symptoms exhibited by the child, including extreme salivation, lacrimation, tremors, and tachycardia. Therefore, increased acetylcholine release from nerve terminals is the likely outcome of a black widow spider bite.

A 3-Year-Old Child Is Admitted to the Emergency Department of a University