Brown Recluse Bite
- Thread starter MDM
- Start date
- Views: 9930
texasjohn
Super Member
Pineridge, anthonyK... you guys ROCK.. thanks for the photo... have emailed it to several friends.
First ever good photo I've seen of the spider... complete with sizing comparison!
First ever good photo I've seen of the spider... complete with sizing comparison!
roxynoodle
Veteran Member
Have you been to another doctor yet? We do have brown recluse in Ohio and they are pretty numerous. I found one in my shower last week! Talk about a rude awakening. Spiders are all over my property and I have had bites like you are describing that were not from a recluse. Some bites can last for weeks, but you should make sure you get that checked. The worst one I ever got lasted about 2 months and was bigger than a quarter and very hard and purple. I got it putting the roof on my pole barn. I don't know why but there were spiders all over that roof and they kept coming at me. I think I spent as much time smashing spiders as I did pounding in nails. After that bite, I wasn't taking my chances with them, if they came toward me, I smashed them. I had an interesting uninvited house guest this summer that turned out to be a northern short-tailed shrew (only venomous animal in North America). After I discovered it was eating up spiders left and right I decided to let it stay. Venomous or not, it didn't bother me, and it couldn't climb but I sure am tired of spider bites. People of course think I am nuts for not killing the shrew. I don't know what happened to the shrew but I haven't seen it for about 3 weeks now and I miss the little bugger after the recluse in the shower incident.
I went to the ER yesterday. Doctor didn't seem to think it was a recluse bite because the black area is more angular/square, and should be round. He switched antibiotics on me. I'm taking Bactrim now. It is two antibiotics in one. The actual diagnosis was cellulitis. I think the swelling went down slightly overnight. The good news is it hasn't gotten worse in the last 3 days. The black area is the same size and the redness my be subsiding. I just took my second dose of the Bactrim. They said to give the antibiotics 2-3 days to see a noticeable change. I think it could have been some other type of insect bite or another type of spider. I was in the woods, 20 feet up a tree and sweating when I felt the warm sensation on my cheek. I think I had sweat on my face and an insect got on my face and was stuck there from the sweat. I had leater gloves on and I might have brushed it off, but I don't remember really, I just remember the warm sensation. I will post an update tomorrow morning. Thanks for the concern.
MDM, your incident is one of the many reasons why, when I was still hunting, I was exceedingly reluctant to spend much time in the woods until after the first heavy frost. I celebrate the frost, for it decimates my enemies.
We have taken to spraying (Bifen) the exterior of the house....crawlspace, lower siding and framing, and eaves.....each fall to prevent the migration of these and other beasties from the cool outside to the warm inside. It makes a dramatic difference. We used to battle spiders all winter....now we might see a half dozen total.
We have taken to spraying (Bifen) the exterior of the house....crawlspace, lower siding and framing, and eaves.....each fall to prevent the migration of these and other beasties from the cool outside to the warm inside. It makes a dramatic difference. We used to battle spiders all winter....now we might see a half dozen total.
PineRidge
Super Member
Cellulitis is an acute inflammation of the connective tissue of the skin, caused by infection with staphylococcus, streptococcus or other bacteria (see also cellulitis - streptococcal).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The skin normally has many types of bacteria living on it, but intact skin is an effective barrier that keeps these bacteria from entering and growing within the body. When there is a break in the skin, however, bacteria can enter the body and grow there, causing infection and inflammation. The skin tissues in the infected area become red, hot, irritated and painful.
Cellulitis is most common on the face and lower legs, although skin on other areas of the body may sometimes be involved.
Risk factors for cellulitis include:
During a physical examination, the doctor may find localized swelling. Occasionally, swollen glands (lymph nodes) can be detected near the cellulitis.
Tests that may be used:
Cellulitis treatment may require hospitalization if it is severe enough to warrant intravenous antibiotics and close observation. At other times, treatment with oral antibiotics and close outpatient follow-up is enough. Treatment is focused on control of the infection and prevention of complications.
Antibiotics are given to control infection, and analgesics may be needed to control pain.
Elevate the infected area, usually higher than the heart, to minimize swelling. Apply warm, moist compresses to the site to fight infection by increasing blood supply to the tissues. Rest until symptoms improve.
Expectations (prognosis)
Cure is possible with 7 to 10 days of treatment. Cellulitis may be more severe in people with chronic diseases and people who are susceptible to infection (immunosuppressed).
Complications
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The skin normally has many types of bacteria living on it, but intact skin is an effective barrier that keeps these bacteria from entering and growing within the body. When there is a break in the skin, however, bacteria can enter the body and grow there, causing infection and inflammation. The skin tissues in the infected area become red, hot, irritated and painful.
Cellulitis is most common on the face and lower legs, although skin on other areas of the body may sometimes be involved.
Risk factors for cellulitis include:
- Insect bites and stings, animal bite, or human bite
- Injury or trauma with a break in the skin (skin wounds)
- History of peripheral vascular disease
- Diabetes-related or ischemic ulcers
- Recent cardiovascular, pulmonary (lung), dental or other procedures
- Use of immunosuppressive or corticosteroid medications
- Localized skin redness or inflammation that increases in size as the infection spreads
- Tight, glossy, "stretched" appearance of the skin
- Pain or tenderness of the area
- Skin lesion or rash (macule):
- Sudden onset
- Usually with sharp borders
- Rapid growth within the first 24 hours
- Warmth over the area of redness
- Fever
- Other signs of infection:
- Chills, shaking
- Warm skin, sweating
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches, pains (myalgias)
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Joint stiffness caused by swelling of the tissue over the joint
- Hair loss at the site of infection
During a physical examination, the doctor may find localized swelling. Occasionally, swollen glands (lymph nodes) can be detected near the cellulitis.
Tests that may be used:
- A CBC may show an elevated white blood cell count, and indicates a bacterial infection.
- A blood culture may be performed if generalized infection is suspected.
Cellulitis treatment may require hospitalization if it is severe enough to warrant intravenous antibiotics and close observation. At other times, treatment with oral antibiotics and close outpatient follow-up is enough. Treatment is focused on control of the infection and prevention of complications.
Antibiotics are given to control infection, and analgesics may be needed to control pain.
Elevate the infected area, usually higher than the heart, to minimize swelling. Apply warm, moist compresses to the site to fight infection by increasing blood supply to the tissues. Rest until symptoms improve.
Expectations (prognosis)
Cure is possible with 7 to 10 days of treatment. Cellulitis may be more severe in people with chronic diseases and people who are susceptible to infection (immunosuppressed).
Complications
- Tissue death (gangrene)
- Sepsis, generalized infection and shock
- Meningitis (if cellulitis is on the face)
- Lymphangitis (inflammation of the lymph vessels)
jwnge
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2004
- Messages
- 314
- Location
- oak woods and rocks of Wi.
- Tractor
- Mahindra 2015 HST-- Snapper 1650, Snapper 1438
"The poison secreted from the submaxillary glands of Blarina brevicauda(short tailed schrew) can cause pain that lasts for several days in a human who is bitten. Bites from Blarina brevicauda are extremely rare, however, and have only been suffered by humans who have attempted to handle the shrew". I think I would leave them around also..roxynoodle said:
roxynoodle
Veteran Member
After the farmer behind me harvested wheat in July, I had mice come in, too. The shrew also went after them. I don't think it was trying to eat them, but it didn't like them. One shrew was better than a bunch of mice, spiders and bugs! That was when I learned it could hiss and growl. It had a mouse trapped under the piano and would hiss, growl and lunge at it.
Jagmandave
Veteran Member
My wife's mantra....................."all spiders must die!"
Paddy
Veteran Member
I hear the bitten area will rot and cause a "crator" in your flesh. A woman my wife worked with was bit between her eyes, on the bridge of her nose. Wife said she had quite a large indentation months later.
Hope all goes well for you, seek qualified med. attension
Hope all goes well for you, seek qualified med. attension
