Bite Symptoms The physical reaction to a brown recluse spider bite depends on the amount of venom injected and an individual's sensitivity to it. Some people are unaffected by a bite, whereas others experience immediate or delayed effects as the venom kills the tissues (necrosis) at the site of the bite. Many brown recluse bites cause just a little red mark that heals without event. The vast majority of brown recluse bites heal without severe scarring (http://spiders.ucr.edu/avoidbites.html). Initially, the bite may feel like a pinprick or go unnoticed. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours. Others feel a stinging sensation followed by intense pain. Infrequently, some victims experience general systemic reactions that may include restlessness, generalized itching, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or shock. A small white blister usually initially rises at the bite site surrounded by a swollen area. The affected area enlarges and becomes red, and the tissue is hard to the touch for some time. The lesion from a brown recluse spider bite is a dry, blue-gray or blue-white, irregular sinking patch with ragged edges and surrounding redness--termed the "red, white, and blue sign." The lesion usually is 1½ inches by 2¾ inches or smaller. Characteristics of a bite are further discussed at http://www.amednews.com/free/hlsa0805. The bite of the brown recluse spider can result in a painful, deep wound that takes a long time to heal. Fatalities are extremely rare, but bites are most dangerous to young children, the elderly, and those in poor physical condition. When there is a severe reaction to the bite, the site can erupt into a "volcano lesion" (a hole in the flesh due to damaged, gangrenous tissue). The open wound may range from the size of an adult's thumbnail to the span of a hand. The dead tissue gradually sloughs away, exposing underlying tissues. The sunken, ulcerating sore may heal slowly up to 6 to 8 weeks. Full recovery may take several months and scarring may remain. It is difficult for a physician to accurately diagnose a "brown recluse bite" based simply on wound characteristics. It is absolutely necessary to have the spider for a positive identification. Necrotic wounds can result from a variety of agents such as bacteria (Staphylococcus, "flesh-eating" Streptococcus, etc.), viruses, fungi, and arthropods (non-recluse spiders, centipedes, mites, ticks, wasps, bedbugs, kissing bugs, biting flies, etc.). Necrotic conditions also can be caused by vascular and lymphatic disorders, drug reactions, underlying diseases states, and a variety of other agents. An annotated list of conditions that could be mistaken for a brown recluse spider bite is available at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/08/05/hlsa0805.htm. Misdiagnosis of lesions as brown recluse bites can delay appropriate care. First Aid If bitten, remain calm, and immediately seek medical attention (contact your physician, hospital and/or poison control center). Apply an ice pack directly to the bite area to relieve swelling and pain. Collect the spider (even a mangled specimen has diagnostic value), if possible, for positive identification by a spider expert. A plastic bag, small jar, or pill vial is useful and no preservative is necessary, but rubbing alcohol helps to preserve the spider. An effective commercial antivenin is not available. The surgical removal of tissue was once standard procedure, but now this is thought to slow down wound healing. Some physicians administer high doses of cortisone-type hormones to combat hemolysis and other systemic complications. Treatment with oral dapsone (an antibiotic used mainly for leprosy) has been suggested to reduce the degree of tissue damage. However, an effective therapy has not yet been found in controlled studies. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061.html (This is a very good site. I would recommend reading it.)

I was bitten in my sleep one night. The next day, I noticed the mark and a small bump. I thought that it was just an in-grown hair or a pimple, so I let it go for about 2 days until the pain was unbarable. It had started to turn black. The procedure was fairly simple though. I had to have a small surgury where they cut open the wound, removed the core of the bite, the dead meat and the poison. They sewed me up, gave me some antibiotics, and send me home. The bites can be fatal if not taken care of.

One fell down the back of my shirt. next day, a sore that resembles a volcano, appeared. it had a dark core in the middle. i went to the emergency room. because of the bites location, i could not be given an injection to ease the pain, before the surgeon surgically removed the core. i was given a towel to muffle the sounds of me screaming when the blade cut my skin. These spiders can be deadly to human. if the bite is not addressed, the core will continue to each human flesh in a straight line.

Hello, this is a very good question. The bite of a brown recluse spider can be very painful, and potentially deadly. God forbid you get bitten, but immeditate competent medical attention would be required to lessen the effects of the venom if you were. My father's best friend who lived through direct live fire combat in WWII and the Korean War was bitten on the front of his leg below the knee (by a brown recluse) when he was well into middle age. Sadly the wound never healed, slowly festering and getting worse. He finally succumbed to the effects of the infection which slowly spread through his body for a long time. Mr. Meyers was a very fine, kind, gentle and honorable man. Get your house treated immediately by an honest, reputable insect extermination company.

G'day Missstarrie, Thank you for your question. Brown recluse spiders generally try to avoid contact with humans so bites are rare. You will generally get bitten when you are in the space that they are in such as woodpiles and sheds, closets, garages, and other places that are dry and generally undisturbed. They are often partial to cardboard. Further, most bites are minor. However, a minority can produce lesions and have caused fatalities most often in young kids and people with weak immune systems. If you know where they are, stay away from them until tomorrow. I have attached sources for your reference. Regards Reference Wikipedia Brown Recluse Spider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_recluse_spider Dermatology Online http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol5num2/special/recluse.html Ohio factsheet http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061.html Things you can do to avoid being bitten http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061.html

I just got bit Sunday at my friends house asleep on her couch. It is the most pain I have ever been in. I got bit on my ribs by my spine on my right side and within three hours the bite wrapped area wrapped around to my chest.....

my gf got bit a few years ago she said it hurt really bad and she had to go to the e.r. after a week because it kept getting worse

the brown recluse is not a solitary spider. it lives in colonies. there have been colonies outdoors in fields that have been several acres in size. it is a runner, its legs are built for speed. where as the black widow is limited to living in her web. it would be good to spray outside, in the walls, under the building. they are where there is food. some kind of fly by generally. and the bite...you dont want it to happen.

I was bit when I was 15, I was behind my shed, in a wood pile, it was pretty bad, very painful I lost use of muscle in my legs, it bit me on the ankle, the black and blue, went up yo my knee.

I have been bitten twice, the Brown Recluse is very common here. There are more than one type of brown recluse and I suffered no really bad effects from either bite. I didn't feel it when I was bitten, but I noticed a small bump which itched at first. Then the surrounding tissue areound the bite got really red and had a black spot in the middle (similar to a tick bite). As I saw the spider both times, I knew what it was ...but to be absolutely sure I took them with me..the doctor put me on steroids for about 10 days and they were almost worse than the bite. No surgery, no noticeable scar, but I went to the Dr right away. A Black Widow bite is much worse, in my opinion.

My daughter just gotten bit by one last Friday. You will know for sure. First you will get a dark spot, brown or purple. It will turn into a blister. Then fever, rash, body ache, and maybe vomit. She is now suffering with the itch and muscle pain. I hope the skin will not rotten around the area if so she will have to have surgury and a skin graft.