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Please don't send any more photos of supposed spider bites. I can't tell
you what may have bitten you, you should go to your doctor and get it
properly diagnosed. Further more, this site is not here to promote the
few bites that people get from spiders but to encourage people to
understand spiders a bit better and how they are of benefit to us. This
includes the fact that of the few people who suffer from spider bites,
many of these aren't spider bites but from something else.
Read this report on the brown recluse bite if you are interested in
more information.
Here's
some pages with photos of spider bites, including the
progression of a supposed Brown Recluse Spider bite and one that the person would
like identified, if anyone can help. Brown Recluse Spiders are also known as Fiddleback spiders or Violin Spiders and
their bite has been believed to cause a very serious reaction.
However, recent theories
tend to dispute
the fact that most of these bites are from the brown recluse. According
to Rick Vetter from the American Arachnological Society - "even if you
have a recluse, bites from them are extremely rare, despite all the
stories. Many of the really graphic nasty wounds you see on the
internet as recluse bites can also be other conditions like necrotizing
bacteria and pyoderma gangrenosum. Ninety percent of brown recluse
bites are not medically significant, heal very nicely often without
medical. intervention and treatment for most brown recluse bites is
simple first aid (RICE therapy – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).
Many conditions are misdiagnosed as recluse bites when their cause is
something else like infection, bad reaction to medication, diabetic
ulcers, Lyme disease, or other underlying medical conditions."
This is not to suggest that anyone should go around handling any spiders
- brown recluse or otherwise - treat all spiders with caution and
respect!!
Here's an email with
a bit more info from Becky:
Dear
Glen, I found your site today as part of my work as a teacher.
You have some pics of this man's bite:
http://www.spiderzrule.com/reclusebiteleg.htm.
These are pics of necrosis from what the docs decided was
definitely a brown recluse. See the emed article here. Pics of
Dale's leg are near the bottom:
http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic547.htm
The thumb bite pics at your site (http://www.spiderzrule.com/reclusebitethumb.htm)
look very much like pics I saw when I was working at Torbitt &
Castleman in Buckner KY. The pics were of a maintenance guy's
thumb. He was working at the plant and reached up under a floor
sweeper when he was bit. News of the bite went around the plant
like wild fire. That guy was on sick leave for a couple of
months...I left the factory before he came back. His friends
told me of the extreme pain he endured. He wanted everyone at
the plant to be more careful so he submitted his pics to the
company intranet. Sincerely, Becky Rathbun |
About the Brown Recluse:
The body of the brown recluse
is light tan to dark brown in colour. It is about 1/2" to 1/4 " in size. The
males are usually smaller than the females. With leg span included the Brown
Recluse
is about the size of a half dollar. The legs are long, thins and delicate.
They have only six eyes. The most distinguishing mark is the violin like
dark patch on their head with the skinny part of violin pointing toward the
abdomen. They can be found in the south central states of the United States
including Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Alabama, and Oklahoma. In
the home the Brown Recluse seeks secluded areas: around the hot water
heater, in closets, under beds and furniture. Around the home they can be
found under the porch, in a woodpile, and in the garage. Their lifespan
ranges from 2 to 10 years. Females lay eggs from May to August. It takes a
month for the eggs to hatch. The spider can tolerate temps from near
freezing to over 100 degrees F. (Photo - R. Vetter ©)
Symptoms can be:
* Rarely any pain when bitten.
* Bite site becomes reddened surrounding a raised bump similar to a fire ant
bite with a dark
centre similar to a bulls eye.
* Flu-like symptoms (fever, nausea, chills, aches) .
* Painful ulceration develops.
* Skin and muscle tissue dies, leaving a deep, infected wound that enlarges,
fails to heal or heals slowly. The wound site can be affected for a long
time, even years. This is called Necrosis.
If you have been bitten:
* Wash the area with soap and water.
* Apply ice to reduce swelling and redness.
* Do Not Use Heat.
* Search for spider- take it with you to the doctor for identification.
* Call your doctor .
To Avoid being bitten:
* Shake clothing that has been on the floor or not been worn in a while.
* Wear long sleeves and gloves when moving boxes or working in storage
areas.
* Wash or check bed linens in beds that have not been slept in for a while.
Wolf
Spider Bite
From Nikki:
I'm suffering from a mild Wolf Spider bite right now on my left shoulder
blade (that is how I ran into your site, as I was researching expected
symptoms and thought I'd share the photo and the bite info). If it
persists in getting more uncomfortable I'll see a physician. Bitten two
days ago-saw the spider, accidentally rolled over on it while in bed.
Somewhat large specimen of about 2 inches diameter. Bite became stingy
(within a few hours, not immediately) almost burning sensation, with the
sting radiating outward to the immediate surrounding areas (about 5 or
so inches outward), mild swelling including the lymph node within my
left arm pit causing some radiation into the front of my chest from the
armpit area. It began itching today in addition to the stinging
sensation (itching localized to actual bite area). Not severe but
uncomfortable. Bite wound insignificant and difficult to detect. Area is
dime sized red around bite site, but that's it and probably more so due
to theitching/scratching effect.
Click below for some
pages of supposed spider bites. One sent in anonymously, of a bite to the thumb and
another sent in by Dale Losher of Illinois of a bite to his leg and the
most recent one from Tracey in Georgia. I have provided these images as
a public service and do not claim that the stories are true or correct.
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