Epidemiology: Brown recluse spiders occur mainly in the south-central United States, and their close relatives are found in the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. These spiders only infrequently bite humans, typically if threatened or pressed against the skin.
- Clinical Features
- Most bites by the brown recluse spider result in only minor injury with edema and erythema, although severe necrosis of the skin and SC tissue and systemic hemolysis may occur.
- Within hours, the site of the bite becomes painful and pruritic, with central induration surrounded by zones of ischemia and erythema.
- Fever and other nonspecific systemic symptoms may develop within 3 days of the bite.
- Lesions typically resolve within a few days, but severe cases can leave a large ulcer and a depressed scar that take months or years to heal.
Treatment: Recluse Spider Bites - Initial management includes RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation); administration of analgesics, antihistamines, antibiotics, and tetanus prophylaxis should be undertaken as indicated.
- Early debridement or surgical excision of the wound without closure delays healing.
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