What happens if someone is biten by a brown recluse?

Question

Just curious.

Answer 1

In a short period of time, the venom in a Brown Recluse spider bite has the ability to cause major tissue necrosis. Necrosis is the death of living cells. The venom comes into contact with the living cells and they simply die. The result is a very painful and gruesome "flesh-rotting" open wound. Fatalities are rare, but are most dangerous to children, the elderly and those in poor physical condition. The severity of the bite wound can vary greatly with some bites going unnoticed while others (though rare) reach the size of dinner plates. The amount of venom the spider injects can vary and tests indicate the spider is able to control the amount injected.




Brown Recluse spider bites can be difficult to diagnose, even by physicians. Diagnostic tests to detect Brown Recluse venom in tissue are not readily available. Collection of the spider that bit you is considered the best possible chance for positive identification. This presents a problem because Brown Recluse bites sometimes do not result in any initial pain (43% of cases in one study). Since the bite may not be immediately noticed, collection of the spider isn't seen as a necessity. As soon as 2 hours after the bite, the area may become painful, itchy, hot, swollen, red and tender. An irregular ulcerous sore, caused by necrosis, will often appear that is from 1/4 inch to 10 inches in diameter. Prompt attention is the best defense against preventing the necrosis. The wound is often described as being reddish and surrounded by a bluish area with a narrow whitish separation in between the red and the blue. This gives it the famous "bull's eye" pattern.




If the wound is becoming necrotic, it will often begin to turn purple within 24 hours. If the skin does turn purple, it is likely that necrosis is on the way and will then turn black as the cells die. Eventually, the necrotic core will fall off and leave a deep pit. A sinking blue-gray impression in the skin is the result. Gravitational flow may have an effect and result in pockets of necrosis in different areas of the body.



Deep scarring can occur after healing. Scarring may look like a hole had been scooped out of the body. In some cases, necrosis can reappear months or even years after being bitten. Sometimes necrosis will reappear on a yearly basis. The photo on the right was taken several weeks after the initial bite.

Systemic symptoms

Those having the following symptoms are less likely to experience a necrotic wound. The theory is that the venom circulates through the bloodstream rather than being localized in the skin. These symptoms are:

Fever
Chills
Sweating
Nausea
Vomiting
Joint Pain
Jaundice
Blood in urine
Seizures
Coma
Kidney Failure
Hemolysis
Not all bites will have the same effect. There have been cases where deaths were attributed to Brown Recluse bites, but it is not common. Secondary infections can occur. The degree of severity depends on:

How much, if any, venom was injected.
The overall health of the victim and strength of the immune system.
The age of the victim. Children under 7 are particularly susceptible to life threatening reactions.
Potential allergic reaction to the bite.

Answer 2

Well not everyone is affected by the bite, however to some people, it is very harmful. After being biten by a brown recluse, a blue-purple ring starts to form around the bite. Soon after, the area of skin would start to die and fall off. It is really gross and the skin does not heal itself. Like I mentioned before, if you are biten by one, it not necessarily mean you will have a reaction to it.

Answer 3

if it really starts to hurt... or feels like a sore, or looks to be turning color in that area... i would get it checked out. If you just felt some random prick and are concerned... (it seems as if your head is playing tricks with you after seeing the spider). - but put the pic up, i might could tell. - and my friend has been bitten by a brown recluse... you're not gonna die. ( it is possible... but not likely) You would really have to avoid doing anything about the bite for quite a long time while suffering horrible pain.

Answer 4

soupy31885 has lots of detail; can't argue. My wife got bit, and didn't notice right away, but had all the symptoms. We didn't recognize them as such right away, so by the time we went to the doctor the next day, it was getting pretty bad, and we ended up going to the hospital and getting a chunk the size of a golf ball taken out of her back. Took quite a while to heal. NOT fun.

Answer 5

You need medical treatment. The toxin causes the tissue to, basically, rot...and it spreads. If you get medical treatment quickly, you'll likely be fine. However, you run the risk of needing the tissue around the bite excised (removed), and the potential for gangrene as it decays.

Answer 6

They need to go to the hospital as soon as possible. Those are very poisonus spiders.. if not treated immediately the wound will grow into a very nasty, pussing, skin eating thing. it can cause u to lose body parts by deterioration or possible amputation

Answer 7

You need to go to the hospital and im talking emergency room!

Answer 8

the brown recluse has a toxic bite that causes the skin and mucile to die and rott while your still alive and can kill you.

Answer 9

Get yourself to the hospital immediately.

Answer 10

Horrible gangrene type of tissue loss. its really bad!