[stlnative]

FYI - PLEASE READ AND BE INFORMED

[error99]

So what state do you live in?
These things are not a problem down here where I am.

[Reagan is King]

Thanks for the post. My next door neighbor (I'm in East Texas) just had their house fogged and they found 12 dead brown recluse spiders afterwards. I've already ordered my spraying and so should anyone that lives in their territory.

[discostu]

What are you doing that's leaving you so exposed to those things? I've lived in brown recluse country for over 25 years never even touched one.

[Utah Girl]

Take care.

[netmilsmom]

How big are they?
It looks Huge.
I'm in MI.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Also in California. Couple ladies I know got hit. One almost lost her leg.

[djf]

I think spider venom has an enzyme that basically has two purposes: digest living tissue, and turn some of it into more enzyme.
Not pretty.

[Polycarp]

I recently referred a patient of mine to a plastic surgeon for a BRS bite on the back of her calf. Fortunately this one will heal. My mentor treated one that the ER and family doc misdiagnosed as simple cellulitis. Lost half his leg.

One final note:

I have a patient with a history of severe acute liver failure.

He set off a bug bomb but returned home too soon.

He inhaled enough insecticide to cause severe liver damage.

And most insecticides are ineffective against spiders unless they get direct and heavy contact.

[Exit148]

What happens when you have your house bombed? Do you have to wash all exposed surfaces -- for instance dishes?

[Young Rhino]

Bitten twice in three years? While I feel sorry for your situation, if you ever attend a FR rally, please identify yourself so that others can avoid a lightning strike or other freak accident.

[Exit148]

What about those fine light tan ones? I have them in my kitchen and they seem harmless. I always talk to them before I blow them away from my area.

[yooper]

Don't mean to offend here, but didn't you notice a spider on your neck? Did it bite you while you were sleeping?

We have these things, or a relative, here in Michigan. I spend much time outdoors and I've never been bitten, though I know of one person who has (a surveyor).

The territory I live in is lousy with mosquitos; I always leave spiders (and bats) alone for this reason.

[djf]

A friend of mine got nailed good by a Black Widow. Didn't want to heal, a couple times the doctors carved away some tissue around it. Six months later, he has a golf ball size hole in his leg. He's a big dude, but still..

[tuckrdout]

Dang! I can't sit still now! I keep looking and itching!

[Joee]

Very interesting. Also gives one and idea of what chemical warfare can do.

[SamAdams76]

That's one advantage to living in a cold climate (New England). Bugs are only a problem maybe four months a year and they aren't that nasty (except for the mosquitos). In fact, here it is in mid-May and the mosquitoes haven't even come out yet. On the other hand, we've only had several warm days so far this year. It's been a cold, wet spring.

I have a serious case of arachnophobia and that picture creeps me out. If I find even a simple garden spider in my house, I'm running for the RAID can.

[xJones]

OMG, thanks for the warning but, those pictures! Are you getting the stun gun treatment for the bite, or what?

Recluses take five years to reach full size.

FIVE years to adult stage?! How many more years do they have till they croak from old age?!

Best wishes for your quickest possible recovery. (I hate spiders, all spiders, but particularly those brown devil recluses.)

[liberalnot]

thanks.

i've had clusters of bites like those above on my right leg, but i didn't know what it was.

i went into a pharmacy and grossed out the pharmacists, who said, you ought to see a doctor!

i live in socal, but not in the area on the map below.

[tubebender]

I lost a good friend last year. He had diabetes and said he was bitten on the top of his foot. It developed into a bad sore and he tried home remedies on it until they had to amputate his foot. Then it spread up his leg and he finally succumbed.

[nutmeg]

Thanks for the info. I think there were a couple of cases here in Connecticut (over about the past 10 years) where people actually died from BRS bites.