Danger Dust

Most exposures to black widow spider venom are accidental, but in a rare medical case, the exposure was intentional.

The patient: A 37-year-old woman in California

The symptoms: The woman visited the emergency room with severe cramps and muscle pain, primarily in her back, abdomen and thighs. She also reported having a headache and feeling anxious. Her pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure were elevated, and she had a temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 degrees Celsius), a little below the typical threshold for a fever.

What happened next: Upon admission to the ER, the patient — who had a history of heroin use — told her doctors that she had tried to get high by grinding up a black widow spider (Latrodectus genus), mixing it with 0.35 fluid ounces (10 milliliters) of distilled water, and then injecting it intravenously. Her symptoms appeared one hour later. Several hours after arriving at the hospital, the woman began to have trouble breathing. Her wheezing became so severe that she was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU).