How do I distinguish a spider bite from a staph infection????

Question

My husband has a sore on his chest that has been there for about 6 days with no improvement. It is about 3" in diamater with a very large and hardened core (about the size of a quarter). There is a pussy area (kind of like a dark white head) in the center.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Unless the spider was actually seen on his chest biting him, it is nearly impossible to say whether or not it is a spider bite. Doctors can't even tell for sure by just looking at it. And unless it starts necrosing (sloughing off a bunch of dead skin), it doesn't really make that much of a difference.

If it is bacterial and not getting better, it needs draining and antibiotics. If it is a spider bite, but non-necrosing, and is not getting better...it likely has a secondary bacterial infection and needs draining and antibiotics.

They did a study of similar sores on a group of 600 people thought by physicians to be caused by spider bites (when a spider was not seen) and 80% of the time it was NOT caused by a spider. This was proven by extensive testing that is not normally done (because it is not needed for treatment, etc.)

But honestly, it sounds like your husband may be infected with a bacteria. Could have been a spider bite with secondary bacteria infection (with staph or strep, the common skin bugs) or a skin infection from the get-go.

The "hardened core" you speak of is called induration...and is the body's attempt to protect your husband from the infection spreading in his body by forming an walled-off abscess.

It sounds like it may need to be drained by a physician, especially if it is not getting better...but only worsening. Though if you start putting a hot/wet towel on it several times a day for 20-30 minutes, you may be able to draw out the infection and have it drain on its own.

When and if a doctor cuts and drains it, they can send the pus for culture to see if it is a common staph or strep...or if it is community aqcquired MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus). This will guide appropriate antibiotic treatment (i.e. keflex vs. clindamycin or bactrim, for example).

If he has (or you have had) recurrent boils in the past (or they start recurring in the future), it is likely MRSA, and you will need a prescription antibioitic ointment to put in your nose a couple of times a day for at least 5 days (called Bactroban). If this ends up being the case, BOTH you and your husband should be treated with this Bactroban. For you might be the carrier of the MRSA in your nose (without boils), and your husband might continue to get these skin infections from you...

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

that would not relatively sound like a spider chew. Sounds extra like a boil or possibly an contaminated hair follicle. If this is as vast as you're saying, he possibly needs to confirm his physician to have it lanced and get an antibiotic ointment. An anti inflammatory med like Motrin might help the soreness and swelling, yet i think of combating the brewing an infection in there will be the answer.