Question:
My doctor has told me that Brown Recluse Spiders do not live in my area of
the country. Where is home for this spider?
Answer:
BRSs are everywhere because of cars, planes, shipping, package delivery, etc.
See
The Spider page for more information.
View
our report on Bite Counts by State and
Month to see when and where the BRS bites. Check out our other
report on Bite Counts by Body
Part
.
Question:
If a BRS did not cause this wound, what did? What other spiders or insects could leave a
wound like this?
Answer:
There have been reports that the Hobo Spider can produce the same type of
wound.
Also a tick could be the culprit. Doesn't hurt
to get tested for Lyme's
Disease
. (I tested positive
at the time of my bite. - Mark)
If bit by a spider or
any insect catch it and save it for positive identification! You will
then know exactly what bit you and it will help in establishing a treatment.
(I know this is not always possible. We never found my spider.)
Question:
I've just been bit by a Brown Recluse Spider. How bad is this
bite going to get? How long will it take to heal?
Answer:
Every bite is different. Please
search on "Body Part" in the BRS Database to read stories and view pictures that may be
similar to your bite.
Take photos of your
bite progression for your medical history record! Start photographing as
soon as possible.
When you post your bite story
to the BRS Bite Site remember to include pictures. One
picture is worth a thousand words.
Question:
Could the following symptoms be the result of a BRS bite
(rash, headache, white and red streaks, nausea , and the list goes
on...)?
Answer:
Please search the BRS Database: Set the Message Text field with
your symptoms, click the Search button and read what others have posted.
Question:
What is the best treatment for a BRS bite?
Answer:
The Brown recluse
venom causes tissue necrosis . The enzyme
primarily responsible is sphingomyelinase D (or phospolipase D), which
disrupts cellular membranes. Various other enzymes in the venom may
act as foreign antigens to trigger the victim's immune response and
contribute to necrosis. There are mixed theories on the proper treatment for
a Brown Recluse Spider bite and varying degrees of success.
Also every bite's severity is
different. A factor seems to be where the bite is located on the
body. You can search
for bite reports by severity and the part of the body
bitten. Please take a look at the
Treatment Information pages and search
on treatments/medications
to read about their success. You can review the "Frequency of Prescribed Medications" report
that shows how many times each medication has been prescribed as
reported in MyBite messages.
A reader called our attention to the
following article by Dr. Kenneth Burton, "The
Brown Recluse Spider: Finally Stopped In Its Tracks". Dr. Burton
recommends nitroglycerin patches.
Question:
My wife was bit 9-1-00. It is now 6-29-01. It started like
the typical bite. It got about 3
inches in
diameter.
Luckily it stopped at the bone. Took
approximately 3-4 months for the
original bite to heal, it is now just a thin layer of scar tissue
laying on the bone no muscle tissue under it at all.
Now as well as during the original bite
time she has satellite bites all over her arm as many as 6-8 at a time from 1/4
in. to 1 in. in diameter. Some which go thru skin
and tissue. It appears that they start from the
inside and work to the surface She can tell when
another bite is going to surface because of the fluid build up underneath.
Are there any remedies for these satellite bites? We have been to over 30
doctors and 5 hospitals. Have read a lot of your messages and wondered about
the stun gun. We have tried more meds and treatments than I can list.
The only relief she gets is what we call milking the new bites when they
open up and that is only for a short while.
Answer:
We are seeing more
reports of recurring bites /
sores without being re-bitten which sounds like your
wife's satellite bites. Also, long lasting sores that do not heal.
Please search on
recurring
bites for more patient information. You
can also read more about the modified stun gun treatment
and search
on "stun
gun " to read about its
use by bite victims. You might
also try contacting
Dr. Abrams.
Question:
Is it common to be afraid of
spiders after being bitten by one? I'm
suffering from a severe case of arachnophobia
.
Answer:
I had arachnophobia in the months
following my bite. My fear gradually went away . Search the
Bite Site for other reports of arachnophobia.
Question:
How can I get rid of these spiders in my house?
Answer:
Call your local exterminator . Remember Brown Recluse Spiders
like to live in dark places. Be sure to shake out all clothing
including shoes that have not been worn for a while. This is especially true
if they have been stored in an attic/garage/basement.
Question:
My pet has an ugly bite wound and is really sick.
Is it possible this could be a BRS bite?
Answer:
Yes! We have received reports and pictures
of pet bites.
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