Treatment For A Brown Recluse Bite

Although encountering a brown recluse is rare, like most spiders, if it feels threatened, this brownish-tan spider may just bite humans. Found mainly in the midwest and the south, brown recluse spiders are one of only two venomous spiders in the United States who have a dangerous bite. These spiders are distinguishable by their violin shaped feature on the front of their bodies. If they bite, their venom tends to leave a painful sore on the bitten area. However, depending on the individual, the symptoms can be mild to severe. These symptoms include a pinching or stinging sensation at first, pain, soreness, and redness at the sight of the bite, skin turning purple at the center of the bite, with a deep sore (ulcer) forming, chills, a fever, nausea, joint pain, weakness, and sometimes seizures or coma. Learn how to treat a brown recluse bite now.

Keep Affected Limb Raised

Immediately after being bitten by a brown recluse or any other spider, patients should try to elevate the bitten area of the body. This serves to reduce inflammation and swelling, as well as to slow the spread of the venom. Individuals should continue to keep the limb raised whenever they are resting as much as possible for at least a week after the bite. However, it is best to make a habit out of it until the wound begins to clear up. Using pillows to help prop up the limb is tremendously beneficial.

There are more strategies to treating a brown recluse bite effectively. Get to know some of these tips now.

Clean Bite With Soap And Water

Whenever bitten by a spider, especially a potentially harmful one like the brown recluse, the next thing individuals need to do is disinfect the bite. They can do this by cleaning it out with mild soap and water. First use cool water to gently scrub the bite out and rinse it out again with cool water, patting dry with a clean, soft cloth. This is a preventative measure to keep the venom from spreading even more into the bloodstream as well as keeping extra germs out to avoid an infection in the wound. While doing so, an additional safety measure individuals could take is to run the cold water over the bite for a few minutes before drying. Individuals should spend more than a few minutes washing it out with soap and water to make sure they are cleaning the bite effectively.

Keep reading for more information on treating a brown recluse bite now.