Most spider bites aren’t serious, but a brown recluse spider bite can have serious side effects and medical attention should be sought out. The identification of a brown recluse bite is best done by a medical professional, but there are some things you can look for yourself.
Brown recluse spiders, also called fiddleback spiders or violin spiders because of their distinct violin shaped marking on their backs, aren’t aggressive. The nature of their name suggest they just want to be left alone. But if you happen to step on one, put your foot in your shoe where she was hiding, or just lean on one by mistake in the garden, they will bite. The good news is the bite is painless. The bad news is you may not know you’ve been bitten then which may stall you from getting brown recluse bite treatment.
You should look for the common symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite (they usually present themselves about 3-8 hours after the bite) including:
- Pain or aching in a targeted area
- Muscle pain around the targeted area
- A blister or redness you can’t account for
- Swelling or bruising you can’t account for
- Pain in your abdomen, back, chest and legs
You should also be aware of the severe symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite including:
- Rash
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Difficulty sleeping
The severe symptoms when presenting with any of the common ones are reason alone to get yourself to a doctor promptly. After about 3-5 days, you may notice other symptoms including an ulcer on the bite site. After 7-14 days, the skin around the ulcer can start to break down and become an open wound that could take months to heal and become infected. Left untreated, it could lead to further bruising, a blister, infection, brown recluse necrosis, and scarring. In addition, the area around the bite can continue to grow and your pain will likely increase because of the brown recluse venom, the wound may be infected, especially if the wound begins to drain a cloudy liquid. Infections could be dangerous and spread further from the wound. In serious cases, an untreated and infected wound could be life-threatening. People with weakened immune systems, the very young, and the elderly are at the most risk of the side effects that can come with a brown recluse bite, but anyone that suspects they have been bitten should call the doctor at your first chance. But there are a few things you can do at home first:
- Clean the bite area with soap and water
- Apply a cold, damp cloth or ice to reduce swelling
- Elevate the bite area if possible
The good news is the majority of brown recluse bites will heal after three weeks if the bite is not severe. Seeking treatment at the first sign of a brown recluse bite will ease recovery time, though. So, even if you just suspect you were bitten, heading to the doctor is your best course of action. And keeping them out of your home is a great way to avoid being bitten at all! A professional pest control company can help with both brown recluse extermination and with how to prevent brown recluse spiders from being in your home or business.
