What are the symptoms of envenomation by Loxosceles reclusa?
According to a survey results of 149 brown recluse spider bites treated by family physicians, “Pain was common but not universal. Most bites were located on the extremities. Erythema was always present, but necrosis was present in only 40% of the bites. Some systemic signs or symptoms were common. The most frequent forms of treatment were systemic antibiotics (66% of cases) and conservative wound management (56%). Only 1 hospitalization occurred; 43% of the bites healed within 2 weeks; and only 13% resulted in scarring.”
Cacy J, Mold JW. The clinical characteristics of brown recluse spider bites treated by family physicians: an OKPRN Study. Oklahoma Physicians Research Network. J Fam Pract. 1999 Jul;48(7):536-42. PMID: 10428252.
Contributed by Gurveer Deol, DO, PGY-1 emergency medicine resident at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center