Hatrack River Forum: Spider Bite Update: all is well

This is topic Spider Bite Update: all is well in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :

Wow, what a night. My son starts screaming and crying, saying that he stepped on a bug and it stuck something in him. After searching for awhile, I finally find a brown spider partially crushed fumbling around.

After much comparison online we decide it is a woodlice spider and NOT a brown Recluse, but I just can't sleep, I keep checking him to make sure he is not showing any symptoms.

Poor baby. Im pretty sure it is just the woodlice spider, but it sure scared the crud out of me [Frown]

anyway... gulp...

[ May 15, 2005, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: mimsies ]

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :

Gulp indeed... I have no idea actually what the difference between those two species is, but I take it the brown Recluse is the worse case of the two?

Posted by Grisha (Member # 6871) on :

Brown Recluse bites usually kill the skin around the bite, and in some cases have caused death. In those cases usually the victim was either elderly, had a weak immune system, was allergic, or was entirely unaware they were ever bitten for days at least, so there was no treatment of symptoms. They make us learn that here in basic first aid classes.

Anyway, I've never heard of a woodlice spider, but I'm guessing the brown recluse would be the worse case of the two.

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

Yeesh! I'm glad that he's okay, at least so far. I'd be checking him all night, too.

Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :

If you are in any way unsure, get the kid checked out. It's the principle of "better safe than sorry". Also, you should keep the body of the spider in a baggie and take it to an entomologist for positive identification. Home extension offices and colleges will usually be happy to help you.

If it's any comfort, the spider probably only bit because it was getting squished. You might want to treat the wound and cover it with a band-aid or something, since all spiders do have venom. Watch it closely over the next few days. It wouldn't be unusual for some redness and some swelling to develop. Just watch to make sure it does heal.

Posted by Stark (Member # 6831) on :

I was bitten by one a few months back, I almost went to the doctor to check it but it just filled with puss and faded after about a week or two. I was pretty freaked out though.

Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :

*Steps on all spiders*

There. Fixed that problem.

Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jenny Gardener:
all spiders do have venom.

I never thought of it that way. Eww.

Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :

He's fine. I slathered a water and baking soda mixture on last night, and it seems to have helped, the bite doesn't even hurt today.

Found another one in hte kitchen this morning.

Reading up on them, I found that one of the most common false alarms for Brown Recluse bites are woodlice bites! Poor little thing is definately dead, we usually capture them and put them outside, but THAT won't be happinging with this one!

Anyway, MY little guy is fine and happy, and enjoying some cartoons before church!

Thanks everyone!

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Thanks for the update! Glad everyone (well, except for the spider [Wink]

) is ok!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

[Angst]

I'm allergic to spider bites...

My mom has brown recluses and black widows living on her property. [Eek!]

Posted by Grisha (Member # 6871) on :

how can you ever visit her?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, I just don't go in the shed or under the house or open boxes in the garage.

It's a lot better since she got central air and heating; now they don't crawl out of the furnace. [Angst]

Of course, it's quite rare we get to visit anyway, as she lives 1500 miles away. [Frown]

Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :

I'm glad the kiddo is okay. We have black widows in our garage. Even harmful spiders really aren't that likely to bite you, unless you actually put your hand on one. No spiders are actively out to get you.

Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :

quote:
No spiders are actively out to get you.

I don't believe you. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

*has been chased by spiders before* [Angst]