Brown Recluse Spider

[buckytom]

if you have the ability to go see a doc, don't try a self diagnosis. period.
and then don't always trust the first doc you see.

i've been bitten by lots of stuff over the years, and have gotten infections from a few. my docs often guessed spiders, i suppose, from my suggestion; not from any kind of testing.
one time a doc said i had a spider bite and treated it as such, but a second doc ended up cutting out the head and claws of a wood tick a few painful days later.
from conversations with many appalachian trail hikers i've met, doctors seem to gravitate towards spider bites for explanations, but i tend to doubt that they all were. there's lots of creepy crawlers that have a taste for human blood.

just for scare value, the recent outbreaks of super resistant staph infections, m.s.r.a., was misdiagnosed as spider bites for a long time. here's some info on m.s.r.a. (please read the healthcare provider info): MRSA Infection (False Spider Bite)

 

[Michael in FtW]

Well, some will call this an urban legend, some a myth .... but not those who do a little research on the subject of how amino acids break down the proteins in insect/spider toxins. There was a good article published by a doctor in Denton, TX back in the mid 1970's in the JAOA (Journal of the American Osteopathic Association) that went into this - although I don't remember him identifying which specific amino acid, or combination, was the de-facto component.

When you get a bite - make a paste of Adolph's Original (unseasoned) Meat Tenderizer and put it on the bite ... cover with a band-aid that has been moistened with a couple or three drops of water (moist - not wet). Repeat 3-4 times a day for a day or two - until the redness and itching goes away. (see disclaimer below)

The papain (the papaya extract) breaks down the toxin and helps stop/limit the necrosis associated with the venom in the brown recluse bite. I have never heard of a "confirmed" brown recluse bite that didn't have associated necrosis of tissue that didn't continue until treated (and we have a lot of them around where I live). Ironically, the solution that is generally used to debride necrotic tissue contains papain - which stops the necrosis and the antibiotics which were administered are mistakenly thought to be the cure.

Now, The Disclaimer: This is usually effective for insect toxins which can cause necrosis and localized histamine responses (reddening and itching) - not any diseases they may carry (such as lyme disease from ticks), which would require antibiotics - or for any serious allergic (anaphylactic) reactions which would require the quick administration of antihistamines.

Anyway, Renee - glad you went to see the Doc!

 

[expatgirl]

How interesting, Mike, thanks for sharing!

 

[Renee Attili]

Actually when I was in my teens, I got bitten by a scorpion and the poison control center told my folks to put meat tenderizer on it too. It worked like a charm. A few days later there was no sign of the bite

 

[Fisher's Mom]

Hey Renee, how is your bite doing?

 

[expatgirl]

I stepped on a wee scorpion when I was about 17 and unfortunately there was no meat tenderizer on hand. My poor leg throbbed the rest of the night. I had never know such pain up until then (of course labor pains superceded that a few years later). The only thing that comforted me was witnessing my uncle stomping on it as I screamed bloody murder in the background. Glad that you had the miracle potion on hand, Renee, as I understand the scorpion sting can be fatal for many people.

 

[Renee Attili]

Hey Renee, how is your bite doing?

Happy to report it is healing up very nicely!! I will have a definite scar but other than that I am healing. Thanks for asking.