Herpes zoster developing after a spider bite.

A patient was bitten on the hand by a spider and subsequently hemorrhagic herpes zoster developed at the site of the bite as well as over most of the area distal to the elbow (innervated by cutaneous nerves C5-C8). Mild systemic symptoms of nausea, abdominal cramping, and visual disturbances responded to the intravenous administration of calcium gluconate. There was residual paresthesia of the C5-C8 dermatome but no atrophy. This is the first reported case of herpes zoster precipitated by a spider bite.