[pct-l] spider bites.

[Dan Africk]

If the wound quickly heals a few days after starting the antibiotic, it
probably is a staph infection. From what I've read about brown recluse
bites, they take a very long time to heal. I'd imagine that the only benefit
of an antibiotic would be to prevent secondary infection.

I just took a look at wikipedia, and apparently there is very little
evidence that hobo spider venom is toxic to people. It also says that up to
80% of brown recluse spider bites are misdiagnosed, which sounds pretty
likely to me. Staph infections are far more common. I figure that unless you
see the spider or actually feel its bite, chances are it wasn't a spider at
all.

On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 12:09 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>wrote:

> Good evening,
>
> For my (presumed) hobo spider bite the Doc prescribed a heavy-duty
> antibiotic against the possibility it might have been one of the nasty staph
> infections.  He did not say the spider carried staph but that staph damage
> can be mistaken for spider venom effects.  He also took some juice right out
> of the swollen bite area with a big, long needle to have it analyzed.
>
> Steel-Eye
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 7:48 PM, Dan Africk <danstheman at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I've heard enough horror stories about brown recluse bites that I will
>> definitely see a doctor if I ever get a serious bite. But I've never heard
>> anything about the venom containing bacteria, or being treated with
>> antibiotics. Are you saying that if I get what appears to be a brown
>> recluse
>> bit I should take antibiotics? I know that staph infections, which can get
>> pretty nasty, are often mistaken for spider bites, and for these its
>> definitely a good idea to take strong antibiotics ASAP.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 4:38 PM, Georgi Heitman <bobbnweav at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > If not attended to by good professional medics and strong antibiotics, a
>> > spider bite can be an extremely serious problem....  A hiker from 2006
>> might
>> > weigh in on his experience if he's on this list.  And if the antibiotics
>> > don't get started w/in a short amount of time following the bite...the
>> > person with the bite will be pretty darn sick, ie., high temp, diarrhea,
>> > dehydration, the list can go on and on, even after the meds are started.
>> > That person should NEVER be left to deal w/ this problem alone.
>> >
>> > GB...are you out there?
>> > FireFly from Old Station, Shasta Co. CA
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