World · Europe · 6 hrs ago
Italian mother dies after suspected spider bite; Rome opens inquiry
A 39-year-old mother of two died in Rome on October 25 after about 40 days of worsening illness.
The illness began with a painful mark on her thigh that doctors initially diagnosed as an insect bite with inflammation.
Her family says she received antibiotics and later care but no further tests or treatment at that stage.
As her condition worsened, she developed severe pain and difficulty walking, and an MRI that doctors prescribed was not carried out.
On October 21, she was admitted with a blood infection and later found to have tissue death and serious damage to several organs.
Her family suspects a violin spider bite and possible medical negligence, but the bite is described as probable, not confirmed.
The Rome prosecutor's office has opened an involuntary manslaughter investigation and ordered an autopsy.
Sabrina Gigliotti, a 39-year-old mother of two, died in Rome after about 40 days of complications linked to a possible bite from a violin spider.
Her family filed a complaint alleging possible medical negligence.
Rome prosecutors opened an investigation for manslaughter against unknown persons and ordered an autopsy.
Doctors initially diagnosed an insect bite with inflammation and prescribed antibiotics, according to Midi Libre.
The article gives dates that conflict: it says Gigliotti died on 25 October but also describes a hospital visit on 28 October.
- Who
- Sabrina Gigliotti, a 39-year-old mother of two.
- What
- She died after complications linked to a possible violin spider bite. Her family filed a complaint, and prosecutors opened an investigation.
- When
- She died on 25 October, according to the article. The sources do not state the year.
- Where
- Rome, Italy; she also received care at Grassi Hospital in Ostia.
- Why
- Her family alleges possible medical negligence after her condition worsened. The cause of the initial lesion was described as a possible spider bite.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Gigliotti noticed a painful lesion on her right thigh.
She went to the emergency department at Grassi Hospital in Ostia and was diagnosed with an insect bite with inflammation.
She received further care at a hospital, without additional tests or a new treatment, according to her relatives.
Her condition worsened, and she was taken to Grassi Hospital, where she was intubated after a blood infection was found.
The article says Gigliotti died, but also reports a hospital visit on 28 October.
The article says she returned to Grassi Hospital and was prescribed an MRI, while also stating that she had died on 25 October.
- Name
- Sabrina Gigliotti
- Age
- 39
- Family
- Mother of two
- Initial diagnosis
- Insect bite with inflammation
- Death date
- 25 October, as reported by Midi Libre
- Investigation
- Rome prosecutors opened a manslaughter inquiry against unknown persons
3 sources
Drame. Mordue par une araignée violoniste, une mère de famille de 39 ans meurt après 40 jours d'agonie
Les médecins évoquaient une simple "piqûre d’insecte" : une mère de famille meurt après la probable morsure d’une araignée violoniste
Une Italienne de 39 ans décède d’une morsure inexpliquée : soupçons sur l’araignée violoniste
What people are saying
insect bite with inflammation
This MRI was never performed, notably because in the meantime her physical condition worsened