Important Information To Know About Brown Recluse Spider Bites

Jul 22, 2018

 You probably know that brown recluse spiders are highly venomous. What you may not know is that their bites can lead to incredibly serious conditions if they aren't medically treated in a timely manner. In fact, when left untreated, a brown recluse bite can be fatal! So it's definitely not something you want to ignore if it ever happens to you. These deadly spiders are located in many states throughout the US and are especially prevalent in the Southern Midwest, Southeast, and parts of the Southwest.

The stories of two unfortunate brown recluse victims will highlight the danger that encountering these harmful arachnids can pose. Tamara Owsley of Kansas and Kiara Boulton of Tennessee had their lives turned upside down due to the severe injuries incurred from their brown recluse bites.

When she was innocently playing a game of hide-and-seek, poor Tamara accidentally stepped right through a spider web. She felt the bite but didn't think much of it at the time. Later on, however, the swelling became too great to ignore. It landed Owlsey in the hospital where she stayed for a whopping 41 days receiving intensive treatment for the flesh-eating disease (necrotizing fasciitis) that she incurred from her spider bite. Her blood tissues, nerves, muscles, and fat layers were all attacked leading to 15 surgeries that ended up with doctors removing most of her arm!

Kiara Boulton's brown recluse bite that she first discovered after a shower caused her to make a trip to the hospital. Unfortunately, the medicine she was given to treat the bite proved largely ineffective in her case. Shortly thereafter, her toe became painful and turned a shocking black color! Not only was her toe eventually removed, but her whole leg ended up needing to be amputated as well!

These harrowing true accounts probably leave you wondering how you can avoid this type of pain and suffering from a brown recluse bite. Sadly, it's not always easy to recognize a spider bite quickly enough for treatment to be effective. Since the venom from the spider's bite is deposited below the skin spider bites are often misdiagnosed as other conditions, such as:

• diabetic ulcers 
• septic embolism
• fungal infections
• leukemia

Of course, if you actually notice a spider biting you or feel a pinch and then notice a spider nearby, you may be able to self-report the bite, leading to a quicker diagnosis and treatment. Whether you witness yourself or a loved one being bitten by a spider or not, any unidentified painful, red bump could be cause for a trip to the doctor to rule out this serious condition.

To help make others aware of the dangers of these arachnid bites, pass this story along to your friends and family! Let us know your thoughts or any experiences you've had with brown recluse spiders!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!