My husband got bit by a brown spider and we live in south texas, do you know wha!
Question:
My husband got bit by a brown spider and we live in south texas, do you know what kind of spider it was and?
what should we do. It happened maybe 1-2 hours ago when he was at work. He said that a brown spider bit him but he is not sure what kind it was. I think that it was a brown reculeuse, right now the site is a little red and it stings like a bee sting. He kinda thinks that a bee stung him but he didnt see a bee only a spider. I have tried to make him go to the hospital but he said that its ok but I am worried. What should I do and does anyone know anything about brown spider bites because I am clueless about it. Thank you so much
Answers:
GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW!
If you even suspect that it is a brown recluse spider they are very venomous and can cause harmful damage.
# The Brown Recluse venom produces a condition called "necrotic arachnoidism." The bite itself may be completely painless or cause intense pain that lasts two to eight hours. A small blister forms at the site within six to eight hours. The surrounding tissue begins to darken and takes on sharply raised edges resulting in a sunken area which may be several centimeters in diameter. The wound heals very slowly, and sometimes scars have been reported as large as a half- dollar.
# Occasionally, there is a systemic reaction within 24-36 hours that includes chills, fever, nausea, weakness and joint pain. It is almost impossible to positively determine a brown recluse bite without having collected the spider, because there are a number of other skin afflictions that could be misdiagnosed as brown recluse bites, including complications from Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, bacterial infections An ice pack should be applied immediately to the site of the bite to localize the venom, and the individual should then be taken immediately to a physician. If possible, take the spider with you for positive identification.
Most spiders are absolutely harmless to humans. In fact, of the 20,000 different species of spiders that inhabit the Americas, only 60 are capable of biting humans. Within that small group, only four are known to be dangerous to humans: brown recluse, black widow, hobo or aggressive house spider, and the yellow sac spider. Within this select group, only the brown recluse and the black widow spider have ever been associated with significant disease and very rare reports of death.
* Deaths from brown recluse spiders have been reported only in children younger than seven years. Brown recluse spiders are native to the Midwestern and Southeastern states. Documented populations of brown recluse spiders outside these areas are extremely rare. Fewer than 10 individual spiders have ever been collected outside of these native states. Most false sightings are due to confusion with one of the 13 other species found in the same family.
# Features: Brown recluse spiders are notable for their characteristic violin pattern on the back of the cephalothorax—the body part to which the legs attach. The violin pattern is seen with the base of the violin at the head of the spider and the neck of the violin pointing to the rear. These small nonhairy spiders are yellowish-tan to dark brown in color with darker legs. They measure with legs about 1 inch in length. The name of the genus, Loxosceles means six eyes. Most other spiders have 8 eyes. Yet this unique feature of the brown recluse is lost on the casual observer because the eyes are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
# Habits: These spiders are not aggressive and bite only when threatened, usually when pressed up against the victim's skin. They seek out dark, warm, dry environments such as attics, closets, porches, barns, basements, woodpiles, and old tires. Its small, haphazard web, found mostly in corners and crevices, is not used to capture prey. Most bites occur in the summer months.
Brown recluse spider bites often go unnoticed initially because they are usually painless bites. Occasionally, some minor burning that feels like a bee is noticed at the time of the bite. Symptoms usually develop two to eight hours after a bite. Keep in mind that most bites cause little tissue destruction.
* Victims may experience these symptoms:
o Severe pain at bite site after about four hours
o Severe itching
o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Fever
o Myalgias (muscle pain)
* Initially the bite site is mildly red and upon close inspection may reveal fang marks. Most commonly, the bite site will become firm and heal with little scaring over the next few days or weeks. Occasionally, the local reaction will be more severe with erythema and blistering, sometimes leading to a blue discoloration ultimately leading to a necrotic lesion and scaring.
o Blistering (common)
o Necrosis (death) of skin and subcutaneous fat (less common)
o Severe destructive necrotic lesions with deep wide borders (rare)
********When to Seek Medical Care********
If you think you have been bitten by a brown recluse spider, then you should be seen by your doctor that day. If possible, bring the spider in question with you to your doctor's office. Identification of the spider is very helpful in making the correct diagnosis.
If you are unable to be seen by your doctor that day, you should seek care at your hospital's Emergency Department.