What Does It Look Like
A brown recluse might not be brown, but tan. It has a violin-shaped area on the front half of its body, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the spiderâs abdomen.
It may be bigger than other spiders that youâre used to seeing. Its body can range in size from a quarter-inch to three-quarters of an inch, and its long legs make it appear even larger.
Most spiders have eight eyes, but a brown recluse spider has six. Two are in the front, and there are two more on each side of its head.
Brown recluses are found mostly in the Midwest or the South. The spider favors indoor spaces, like attics, garages or dark closets. Outdoors, it hides in out-of-the-way places — under logs, beneath porches, or within piles of rocks.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Brown Recluse Spider Bite
Venom from the brown recluse spider usually causes local tissue damage. The following are the most common symptoms of a bite from a brown recluse spider:
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Burning, pain, itching, or redness at the site which is usually delayed and may develop within several hours or days of the bite
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A deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by a whitish ring and large red outer ring similar to a “bulls eye”
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An ulcer or blister that turns black
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Headache, body aches
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Fever
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Nausea or vomiting
The symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Insect Bites And Stings
Insect bites and stings are a common presentation in primary care. The true rate of insect bites and stings is unknown as most instances go unreported. One recent survey of GPs found that all respondents had managed patients with insect bites in the previous year, and that further investigations and referrals to secondary care were rare.3
Most insect bites and stings result in minor local reactions, which usually last from a few hours to several days.4 They usually present as a red lump, with or without an area of surrounding erythema, and are often associated with swelling and itching.1 Bacterial infection can result, but is uncommon.1 Treatment should normally be directed towards first aid and symptomatic relief of the inflammatory reaction.1
Rarely, large local skin reactions, or potentially life-threatening systemic reactions including anaphylaxis, can occur in some people.4
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What Should I Do If A Spider Bites Me
You should never attempt to suck out or remove venom from a spider bite. Instead, follow these steps:
How Do Insect Bites Cause Cellulitis
Everyone has some amount of dirt and germs underneath their fingernails even when fingernails look clean. When you cause an opening in the skin by scratching an itchy insect bite with your fingernails, germs on your skin or under your fingernails can enter.
Children who spend a lot of time outdoors playing may be more prone to getting cellulitis this way. But it can happen to adults, too. Even if you dont scratch, the tiny opening from the insect bite can let germs in.
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When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
If in doubt, call your healthcare provider, who can diagnose MRSA with a simple culture of pus or tissue.
Treatment usually involves oral antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and doxycycline. Occasionally, an abscess may be need to be drained.
It’s vital to get proper medical care quickly, because a delay could result in potentially life-threatening complications or even death.
S Of Preventing Bites
Wearing protective clothing such as gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants tucked into socks when outdoors can help prevent widow bites. Applying insect repellent containing diethyltoluamide to skin and clothing can provide extra protection.7 Clearing the area of yard debris and tall grass is a good way to prevent widow spiders from making their homes nearby. It is also a good idea to inspect and shake out gloves, shoes, or any other items that may come in contact with the body, in case widow spiders are residing in them.
Since recluse bites commonly take place indoors, measures can be taken in the home to lessen the chance of an exposure. First, the home should be adequately sealed to prevent spiders from entering. This includes adequate insulation and sealing around doors, windows, attics, and crawl spaces. Vacuuming under furniture and clearing spider webs with a broom or vacuum is also helpful. Household insecticides may be used to kill and repel household spiders.7
In the case of physical contact with either type of spider, it is recommended that no attempt be made to smash it while it sits on a persons body. This could cause a reflex injection of venom by the spiders fangs. Instead, the spider should be removed by a quick flick of the finger.7
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Diagnosis Of Spider Bites
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Clinical evaluation
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Careful consideration of alternative diagnoses
Spider bites are often falsely suspected by patients. Diagnosis is typically suspected based on history and physical signs, but confirmation is rare because it requires witnessed biting, identification of the spider , and exclusion of other causes.
In nonendemic areas, a brown spider bite should not be diagnosed without identifying the spider. Many patients incorrectly attribute much more common methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections to brown recluse spider bites. Such infections should be excluded, as should other conditions that mimic spider bites . Severe cases of latrodectism should be distinguished from acute abdomen, rabies, or tetanus.
Spiders are identified by location and markings. Widow spiders live outdoors in protected spaces and have a red or orange hourglass marking on the ventral abdomen. Brown spiders live indoors or in protected spaces and have a fiddle- or violin-like marking on the dorsal cephalothorax, extending from the eyes to the abdomen. This marking may be difficult to recognize even in the intact spider.
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Delayed excision for necrotic brown spider bites
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Parenteral opioids, benzodiazepines, and antivenom for severe and sometimes moderate widow spider bites
Treatment common to all spider bites includes wound cleaning, ice to reduce pain, extremity elevation, tetanus prophylaxis , and observation. Most local reactions respond to these measures alone.
Symptoms Of A Brown Recluse Bite
A bite might not hurt at first or even leave a mark. For some people, it feels like a pinch or a bee sting.
Within the first day or two after youâve been bitten, you may notice:
- Pain or redness at the site of the bite
- A deep sore that forms where you were bitten, with the skin at the center turning purple
- Fever
- Seizures or coma
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If Your Bite Has Gotten Worse
Keep an eye on any area of skin where you suspect a spider bite. Symptoms that get worse over time may indicate that you were bitten by a venomous spider or that the bite is infected.
Worsening symptoms include:
In many cases, you can treat a spider bite at home. You may experience mild symptoms for 1 to 2 days. Bites that itch or are infected may require more treatment and a consultation from a doctor.
How Can You Tell If A Spider Bite Is Dangerous
There are two spiders in the U.S. that cause more intense reactions: the brown recluse and black widow.
Brown recluse bites
The brown recluse has a very recognizable, violin-shaped marking along its torso and is known for its six eyes. Theyre a common house spider, and prefer to hang out in dark, undisturbed cornerssay, a closet, basement, or shed. A brown recluse spider bite is extremely painful and can cause necrotic wounds or lesions that may end up needing surgical repair, says Troyano. Look for a white or discolored blister and other body-wide symptoms, like muscle aches or a fever.
Black widow bites
The black widow has a jet black coloring and a red hourglass-shaped marking on its abdomen. You can also find it around the home, especially in garages, workplaces with lots of debris, and areas with corners or edges to build webs. While rare, a black widow bite can also be extremely dangerous, says Troyano. Watch out for two obvious puncture marks, redness, swelling, and a burning feeling around the bite site. The neurotoxic venom can also cause muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremors, and weakness.
If you suspect youve been bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider, seek immediate medical attention.
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When To Go To The Doctor For An Infected Bug Bite Or Sting
You may be able to treat minor infections at home with over-the-counter antibiotic ointments. But in many cases, youll need to go to the doctor for an infected bug bite or sting. You should see a doctor if:
- you have signs of a systemic infection, such as chills or a fever, especially if the fever is above 100 degrees
- your child has any signs of an infected bug bite
- you have signs of lymphangitis, such as red streaks extending from the bite
- you develop sores or abscesses on or around the bite
- the pain on or around bite gets worse over a few days after you get bitten
- the infection doesnt get better after using an antibiotic ointment for 48 hours
- redness spreads from the bite and gets bigger after 48 hours
In the beginning of an infection, you may be able to treat it at home. But if the infection gets worse, you may need medical treatment. Call a doctor if youre not sure.
Brown Recluse Spider Bite
- A brown spider with long legs .
- A dark violin shaped marking on top of its head.
- Causes pain at the bite. Blisters form within 4 to 8 hours.
- The center becomes bluish and depressed over 2 to 3 days.
- Skin damage may require skin grafting in 10% of cases.
- Other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain can occur. No life-threatening symptoms occur.
- Brown recluse spiders are hard to identify. If you can, bring the spider along in a jar.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Common Exposures
A bite from a widow spider feels similar to a pinprick and may be moderately to severely painful.1,7 After exposure, there is often little to no sign of inflammation around the bite site.7 However, after a period of about 30 minutes to 1 hour, systemic toxicity begins, and muscle spasms and rigidity occur at and around the area of the bite.1,7 Depending on the location of the bite, the spasms and rigidity could then spread to the abdomen or chest .1,7 In addition to muscular effects, other symptoms, such as generalized diaphoresis, fever, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting, may occur.1,7
The initial bite of a recluse spider is often minimally painful or not painful at all.1,7 Soon afterward, the skin around the bite site becomes tender and red.1 Unlike widow spider envenomation, systemic toxicity is delayed in recluse spider bites, with an incubation period of approximately 3 to 7 days.7 Common signs of systemic toxicity include joint pain, fever, chills, and maculopapular rash.7 Skin necrosis and severe ulceration are a result of the toxic enzymes of recluse spider bites mentioned earlier.12,13 One study showed that about 40% of recluse bites result in skin necrosis and that approximately 13% of these cause scarring.13
Which Spiders Bite And May Be Harmful To Man
Latrodectus spp are found throughout the world and known by many different common names according to country.
- Black widow
Loxosceles spp is found in South America, United States, Australia, and commonly in the tropics.
- Violin spiders
Tegenaria agrestis and Cheiracanthium are found in the United States.
Phoneutria is found in Central and South America.
Atrax and Hadronyche are found in Australia.
The venom produced by spider bites is generally either neurotoxic or cytotoxic. Web dwellers tend to have neurotoxic venom and non-web dwellers cytotoxic venom. Spiders of the Latrodectus genus produce neurotoxic venom, while the violin spider and yellow sac spider produce cytotoxic venom.
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Symptoms And Signs Of Spider Bites
Brown spider bites are most common in the US. Some bites are painless initially, but pain, which can be severe and involve the entire extremity, develops within 30 to 60 minutes in all cases. The bite area becomes erythematous and ecchymotic and may be pruritic. Generalized pruritus may also be present. A central bleb forms at the bite site, often surrounded by an irregular ecchymotic area . The lesion may mimic pyoderma gangrenosum Pyoderma Gangrenosum Pyoderma gangrenosum is a chronic, neutrophilic, progressive skin necrosis of unknown etiology often associated with systemic illness and sometimes skin injury. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment… read more . The central bleb becomes larger, fills with blood, ruptures, and leaves an ulcer. A black eschar forms over the ulcer and eventually sloughs.
Most bites leave minimal residual scarring but some can leave a large tissue defect, which may involve muscle. Loxoscelism, a venom-induced systemic syndrome, may not be detected until 24 to 72 hours after the bite and is uncommon but more prevalent in children and adolescents. Systemic effects are responsible for all reported fatalities.
Widow spider envenomations are graded as mild, moderate, or severe.
How Can I Protect Myself From Spider Bites
To protect yourself and your family from spider bites:
- Apply insect repellant thats registered with the Environmental Protection Agency .
- Keep firewood outside and check it for spiders before bringing it into the house.
- Shake your shoes, hats and gloves to check for spiders before putting them on.
- Treat clothing and shoes with permethrin, an insecticide.
- Wear gloves when carrying wood, working in the garden, moving rocks or in other outdoor settings.
- Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded areas.
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Signs & Symptoms Of An Infected Spider Bite
Spider bites cause a large area of redness on the skin with the bite mark in the center of the red skin, according to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.An antibiotic on the wound helps to prevent infection. If the bite does become infected, there will be additional signs and symptoms. The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia recommends saving the spider for identification if possible.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Best Antibiotic For A Spider Bite Infection That Was Not Treated With Dicloxicillin
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When To See A Doctor
Cellulitis isnt always an emergency but it does need treatment. If the area of red, inflamed skin does appear to be expanding but you have no other signs of a worsening infection, you can call your doctor and request an office appointment.
The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you dont already have a doctor.
However, if the tender, swollen spot is growing or you show signs of a worsening infection, such as a fever or chills, you should seek emergency medical attention. Your infection may become serious if its not treated quickly.
One way to monitor the inflamed area for growth is to gently draw a circle around the swollen area of skin. A felt-tip marker may be more comfortable than a ball-point ink pen. Then, check the circle and skin two to three hours later. If the redness is beyond the circle you drew, the inflammation and infection are growing.
What Does A Spider Bite Look Like
Unless you literally saw the spider bite or simply recall seeing one in your room earlier in the day, odds are that you wont be able to tell the difference between a spider bite and a bee sting or another bug bite! Still, here are some indicators to look out for:
- Swelling
- Camel spider
- Wolf spider
Bites from these types of spiders should not be taken lightly! Black Widow and Brown Recluse spider bites can be life-threatening, as well as those of other venomous spiders. Seek medical attention if you suspect that youve been bitten by one of these.
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How Long Does It Take For A Spider Bite To Heal
In most cases, you can expect a spider bite from a non-venomous spider to heal within a week. However, the skin at the center of the bite can often turn into an open sore or ulcer that gets continually bigger until the surrounding skin dies. This ulcer shouldnt persist in growing for more than two weeks, with full healing potentially taking a month or more.
Who Might Get Spider Bites
Anyone can accidentally come into contact with a spider and get bitten. Still, some people may be more at risk because their jobs or actions put them in closer contact with places where spiders live. People at risk include:
- Outdoor workers, including landscapers, groundskeepers and farmworkers.
- Children who play in piles of leaves or rocks.
- Hikers.
- Profuse sweating.
- Itchy skin rash.
Bites from brown recluse spiders arent immediately painful or noticeable. Instead, you might feel pain an hour after the bite. Other signs of a brown recluse spider bite include:
- A blister surrounded by a bruise or reddish skin color . The blister may rupture and form a skin ulcer that later scars.
- Itchy skin in the bite area or all over the body.
Hobo spider bites rarely cause pain. Signs of a hobo spider bite include:
- Severe headache within minutes or hours after the bite. This headache may last for a week.
- Hardened skin in the bite area within 30 minutes of the bite.
- Red, swollen skin.
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