Brown Recluse Spider Bite: Symptoms, Stages & Treatment

Brown Recluse Spider Bite Symptoms

The severity of a brown recluse bite depends on the amount of venom injected and how the person’s body reacts. Some people have little or no reaction. Others develop serious wounds that require weeks or months to heal.

Early symptoms that typically appear within 2 to 8 hours of being bitten include:

• A small red mark or white blister at the bite site
• Itching or burning around the bite
• Swelling of the surrounding skin
• Fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting in more serious cases
• Restlessness or difficulty sleeping

As the bite progresses, the affected area may turn blue-gray or blue-white with a sunken, irregular appearance surrounded by redness – sometimes described as a “bull’s-eye” pattern. The tissue at the center can begin to die, forming what is known as a necrotic lesion. This open wound can range from a few centimeters to several inches in diameter and can take 6 to 8 weeks to close completely. Full recovery can take several months. Death from a brown recluse bite is rare but the risk is higher in young children and the elderly.

A Visitor’s Experience: Dale’s Story

The following account was submitted by one of our visitors. It illustrates why early treatment is critical.

I was bitten by a brown recluse spider while lying in bed. The first day I went to the hospital, they gave me an aspirin and told me to go home to sleep the bite away.

The next day I was rushed to the emergency room and told I was a fraction of the time away from losing my leg or my life. After nine days in the hospital, they removed the dead tissue. What I had left was a 12-inch diameter hole in my leg.

After scar revision surgery, the hole reduced in size. The apartment I was in contained around 24 spiders, all of which were brown recluse spiders. When I told the manager, he laughed until he saw my leg and fainted. Even after all that, it took the local Health Department to make him treat for spiders.

The next time I see brown spiders in my apartment, I am packing my bags.

– Dale L.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment

If you believe you have been bitten by a brown recluse spider, seek medical attention the same day – do not wait for symptoms to worsen. Early treatment produces significantly better outcomes.

When you go:

• Try to photograph the spider from a safe distance rather than attempting to capture it – a photo is sufficient for identification
• Tell the doctor when the bite occurred and describe any symptoms that have developed
• Note the location of the bite and whether the skin appearance has changed since the bite occurred

Depending on the severity, a doctor may prescribe cortisone-type medications to reduce inflammation and address systemic complications such as hemolysis. Additional treatments will depend on how the bite progresses. In serious cases involving significant tissue death, surgical removal of the affected tissue may be necessary.