Brown recluse spider. Brown spider Brown spider with long legs

Some types of spiders are dangerous to people; their bite can cause illness or death. The infamous brown recluse spider gets its name from its body color and "shyness."

Tries to avoid “publicity”, conducts mainly night look life, hides from people in dark places. Disease resulting from exposure to large quantity spider venom into the skin is called loxoscelism. This is necrosis of soft tissues and the appearance of deep ulcers.

The brown recluse spider is famous for its venomous bite. The arthropod secretes a poison that causes death in insects and necrotic skin lesions in humans.

This is a very hardy creature that can go without food for a month, adapts to dryness and high temperatures. Females and males have similar characteristics; sexual dimorphism is almost invisible.

What does a recluse spider look like (photo below):

Adult females have a body length of 9–12 mm.

Males are slightly smaller - 8 mm.

The leg span is up to 15–20 mm.

Color varies from dark yellow to brownish-red.

A dark spot resembling a violin in shape stands out on the cephalothorax.

Vulture " musical instrument» facing the rear end of the body. The color of the figured spot on the back depends on age, for example, mature individuals have a darker pattern.

Another distinctive external feature is the abdomen Brown, covered with short velvety hairs. The recluse spider has 4 pairs of limbs; they are long, thin, and also covered with hairs. The color of the legs is brown with an orange or red tint. There are six eyes, not eight, like other spiders.

Reproduction and life cycle

Female brown recluse mates with a male only once, after which it produces eggs throughout its life. Fertility reaches 150 or more spiders per year.

Females lay eggs in May–July and hide the clutches in secluded places. Each white sac contains 40–50 eggs. The young molt 5–8 times before reaching maturity. The brown hermit lives in nature from 2 to 4 years.

Diet

It is difficult to detect spiders in a home or utility room. They are nocturnal, and during the daytime they skillfully hide under branches and in cracks in the soil.

At night, the recluse spider hunts insects and other arthropods. It kills prey with a poison that has a necrotoxic effect.

Habitat

Spider Loxosceles reclusa - inhabitant North America, distributed in the United States from the south of the Midwest to the west and east. Range covers southern states to the coast Gulf of Mexico.

The brown recluse is found over an extended area from central Texas to northern Virginia. On west coast The USA was not noticed. Other spiders of the genus Loxosceles live in Mexico, Brazil, southern Europe, Turkey and North Africa.

The hermit has adapted perfectly to rural and urban habitats. Often a brown spider hides in the house, weaving its webs in dim corners. Hides in garages, sheds, basements and attics. Crawls into places where there are wooden parts and cracks.

The spider can bite, but rarely attacks people. This happens only when there is a threat to its life and the occupied feeding territory. A person can discover a hermit by chance: in a wardrobe, in a shoe box, in bedding. He skillfully hides, so he is not noticeable. The spider bites while in bed, under clothes.

Most often, an inattentive person suffers from the arms, legs and neck. The bite of a recluse spider initially causes a sensation comparable to a pin prick. The reaction to poison largely depends on its quantity, as well as the individual sensitivity of the person.

There are people who do not experience any changes in their health. Only a small red mark remains, healing quickly and without scars. Others experience an immediate or delayed allergic reaction after being bitten. Discomfort, pain and itching develop over about 5 hours.

The disease loxoscelism is caused by protein compounds in the venom of the brown recluse: sphingomyelinase, phosphatase, esterase, protease.

These are enzymes that destroy tissues and blood vessels of the skin, red blood cells. If necrosis extends to the subcutaneous tissue, the ulcer does not heal for a long time; its treatment may take several years.

Common symptoms of loxoscelism:

  • feeling of discomfort, itching, pain;
  • chills, fever;
  • sweating;
  • nausea.

If a person is hypersensitive to spider toxins, then soon after the bite a white spot appears on the skin. Then the damage deepens, dry spots of gray-blue color with uneven edges and redness appear. In severe cases, the damaged tissue becomes gangrenous, and there is an open wound, sometimes quite extensive. Skin restoration takes a long time, leaving scars.

Rarely does damage occur after a brown recluse bite internal organs, death occurs. Fatal outcomes are observed in cases where children are attacked by a spider. preschool age and older people. In these groups of patients, the venom sometimes causes hemolytic anemia.

What to do if you are bitten by a brown recluse

The injured person needs immediate help. If bitten by a brown spider, immediately wash the affected area with soap and water.

Then you need to wrap the ice in a cloth and apply it to the bite area for 10 minutes. The procedure should be repeated several times. Cold slows down the absorption and spread of poison and the reaction to toxins. If the bite site is on the leg or arm, then a splint is applied to the limb.

For disinfection, ethanol-based products or other antiseptics are used. Antihistamines with desloratadine or cetirizine are given. The victim must be taken to a medical facility as quickly as possible. It is advisable to catch the culprit of the incident, place it in a clean jar with a well-ground stopper and send it to specialists.

Medicines for the treatment of intoxication after a hermit bite:

  • glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation;
  • detoxifying agent Dextran;
  • antimicrobial drug Dapsone;
  • antiallergic medications;
  • antibiotics;
  • heparin.

None of the medications have been proven to be beneficial as an antidote to brown spider toxins. Sometimes doctors suggest surgical intervention to stop the spread of poison. The consequences of a bite depend entirely on the person’s reaction to the hermit’s toxins.

Precautionary measures

Following a few simple rules helps to avoid a spider bite in regions where this animal is found. It is recommended to inspect and shake your clothes, shoes, and bedding before use. When doing housework, you should wear gloves and do not walk barefoot. You need to be more careful when carrying stones, timber and firewood, or repairing the porch.

Indoors, the large brown spider most often hides in cracks and boxes. It is necessary to reduce the number of places in the room where the hermit will find refuge. Boxes must be removed, cracks must be sealed, and bedside tables and cabinets must be tightly closed.

Spiders enter homes and other premises through windows and doors. It is necessary to install protective nets and cover up the cracks. To store various things and items in utility and technical rooms, it is advisable to use plastic containers rather than wooden boxes.

It is also important to dispose of garbage promptly, old clothes, boxes, rolls. When cleaning, carefully vacuum in corners, under cabinets, sofas and beds. The dust collector containing cobwebs and eggs should be dumped into an outdoor trash container. It is necessary to restore order in all rooms and in the yard. If you have timber, you do not need to store it near the entrance to the house or near the windows.

It is important to prevent recluse spiders from settling in homes. These arthropods are dangerous to humans and cause intractable diseases.

Antidotes cannot combat the toxins of these spiders. You can kill brown spiders with pyrethroid insecticides, such as cypermethrin. Treat with an aerosol or wettable powder behind windows, under baseboards and in other places where poisonous recluses are likely to live.

Gardeners, summer residents, tourists and travelers often encounter representatives of arachnids - spiders that hide in old storerooms, in dry grass, and in tree crevices. Accidentally disturbing their habitat can provoke a bite. Spider venom can cause local swelling and pain, a severe allergic reaction, and in the event of an attack by a hermit or karakurt, general intoxication of the body and even death. How to determine the degree of damage and what to do if bitten by a spider?

Why is a spider bite dangerous?

Spiders are predatory insects, each of them can be called poisonous, since the poison helps them defend themselves and obtain food for themselves.

The venom of a large spider can cause serious damage to health, while small representatives of arthropods, as a rule, do not pose a danger. Due to their size, they are not able to damage the skin, and the dose of their poison will not be enough for a person to feel its effect on the body.

Among dangerous spiders The most common types are:

  1. Karakurt ( black Widow) - lives in forest-steppe zone, on the slopes of rocky ravines, in fields and wastelands. Loves dry sheds and basements. It is found in the countries of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, southern Europe and Russia. The body of the karakurt is smooth, black, without hair, and relatively small. A distinctive feature is the characteristic red-orange spots on the back. This representative of arthropods is deadly. The venom of the female karakurt is extremely toxic, its components cause pathological changes in soft tissues and have a neurotoxic effect with subsequent paralysis nervous system. Nai great danger black widow is an infection for children, pregnant women and the elderly, and death is likely in patients with severe underlying medical conditions. A bite to the face, neck or lip can cause severe swelling of the mucous membranes, which can lead to serious complications.
  2. Brown recluse spider - can be found in tree roots, under rocks, in basements and garages, behind furniture and baseboards. Representatives of this species are found in the United States of America. The body of the hermit is not always brown; there are yellow and even gray ones. Their distinctive feature The design on the back is in the shape of a violin. Such spiders do not show aggression towards humans, however, if their habitat is accidentally disturbed, the insect will begin to defend itself. The danger of the poison lies in its hemolytic effect - it causes necrosis of soft tissues with penetration into internal organs.
  3. Yellow spider Sak - weaves web bags under stones and logs. Lives in most European countries. Despite its small size, its bite is extremely dangerous, as it causes tissue death at the site of injection of the poison.
  4. The Brazilian wandering spider does not spin webs and hides in crevices, under logs and stones, as well as in fruit boxes and in people's homes (including old blankets). Found in the southern regions of America. The poison can provoke a severe allergic reaction. And in a fragile child’s body it will cause severe consequences (up to fatal outcome).
  5. Tarantula - lives in the crowns of trees, bushes and burrows. Found in Africa South America, Italy and Spain. All its subspecies are poisonous, but the degree of toxicity of their poison is very insignificant.

    Tarantulas are often kept at home as exotic pets.

  6. Steatoda - lives in forests, in tree crevices and hollows. It is a close relative of karakurt and is found in Asia, Europe and America. It has a black or dark brown color with characteristic light spots on the back. It rarely attacks a person, only in case of self-defense. The poison contains neurotoxins that can cause partial paralysis.
  7. Tarantula - found in the steppe, desert and others arid places, as well as in the forest-steppe zone. Found in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Russia. Tarantula venom has no effect lethal impact, despite the fact that this spider is considered one of largest representatives arachnids. A bite may cause damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Black widow, tarantula, steatoda, tarantula, Sac, Brazilian wandering and other poisonous species of spiders - photo gallery

Tarantula
Steatoda
Tarantula
Yellow spider Sak
Brazilian wandering spider
Brown recluse spider
Karakurt, or Black Widow

Non-dangerous spiders include:

  • common cross - it is distributed throughout the world, its bites do not harm humans;
  • house spider - live in crevices of windows and walls, indoors, their bites do not cause severe intoxication of the body;
  • common racer - found in vegetable gardens and on summer cottages, love to bask in the sun and are not at all dangerous to humans;
  • flower side walker - live in flowers and feed on insects; cases of human bites have not been described;
  • knitting spider - they build webs near water and do not pose a danger to humans.

Brownie, cross spider and other spiders that are not dangerous to humans - photo gallery

Flower side walker
Spider knitter
Spider jumping
Brown house spider
Common cross

Consequences and manifestations of a bite

Having suspected a bite, first of all you need to try to determine whether it was inflicted by a spider and what kind of arthropod could have carried out the attack.

Local clinical manifestations have certain similarities regardless of the type of spider. They are presented:

  • pain of varying degrees of intensity;
  • pronounced redness of the skin;
  • swelling, burning and itching in the bite area.

Initially, only the bites of the recluse spider are painless; swelling and itching appear only on the second day, after which an ulcer and a black scab (spot) form in the damaged area.

Other characteristic symptoms of a spider bite include:

  • rash on the body;
  • temperature rise to critical levels;
  • intense headaches to the point of loss of consciousness;
  • increased pulse and heart rate, jumps in blood pressure;
  • muscle spasms and even cramps;
  • general weakness with increased sweating;
  • aching joints;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • anxiety, overexcitation and delirium;
  • uncharacteristic color of urine;
  • pain in the abdomen and chest.

Pain in the right side, as with appendicitis, with numbness in the bite area is characteristic of a karakurt attack. A bluish puncture area surrounded by white and red rings is a sign of a recluse spider attack.

If you are allergic to spider venom, you may experience:

  • swelling in the bite area;
  • difficulty breathing up to suffocation;
  • dizziness;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • anaphylactic shock.

The general painful condition and local manifestations of intoxication persist for a week, after which a small scar remains at the site of injury, which becomes invisible over time. However, in the event of an attack by a dangerous poisonous spider skin covering the area of ​​the bite may become dead. Tissue necrosis is sometimes complicated by infection, as a result of which its extent increases and the healing process extends for months.

Treatment

First aid at home

For a while first aid, as well as in case of bites from non-dangerous spiders, you can alleviate the consequences of intoxication at home. For this, the following algorithm is provided:

  1. To avoid infection in the wound, the bite site should be washed with running water and soap, and then lubricated with an antiseptic solution.
  2. In order for the poison, along with the blood, to be transported more slowly throughout the body, the bitten limb (leg/arm) should be fixed and immobilized. It is strictly forbidden to take a hot bath - the heat, dilating the blood vessels, will contribute to the spread of poison.
  3. Using a pressure bandage, it is necessary to localize the location of the spread of the poison by pulling the damaged area just above the bite site. In this case, the material should not be tightened too tightly, otherwise the general blood supply to the tissues will be disrupted.
  4. Apply ice or any cold compress to the bite.
  5. It is recommended to drink as much fluid as possible - this will speed up the removal of toxins from the body.
  6. If you have a slight allergy to spider venom, you can take an antihistamine, for example Suprastin or Tavegil.

If a child or an elderly person is bitten or the victim’s condition rapidly deteriorates, it is necessary to urgently consult a surgeon. Immediate medical assistance should also be sought if there is a suspicion that the attacker is a hermit spider or karakurt. Treatment in this case will be provided by the administration of an antidote.

Treating Signs and Symptoms

Within the hospital, immediately after the attack of dangerous spiders in medicinal purposes A specific serum is introduced to prevent severe intoxication of the body.

Further drug therapy depends on the degree of damage and the person’s individual reaction to the toxic poison. It may include treatment with the following drugs:

  • calcium gluconate - an intravenous solution with mandatory cardiac monitoring will quickly relieve the patient from pain;
  • glucocorticosteroids - hormonal agents will help in the treatment of a severe allergic reaction to toxic spider venom;
  • local and general antihistamines - ointments and tablets will reduce swelling, relieve itching and burning in the bite area;
  • antibacterial ointments - necessary for treating ulcerated areas.

In case of soft tissue necrosis, surgical intervention is indicated to excise the damaged area.

Folk remedies and homeopathy

Spider bites without significant complications can be treated folk remedies. Eg:

  • Parsley or tea tree juice will help relieve irritation and itching - a couple of drops to the puncture site;
  • An infusion of crushed garlic and vinegar can reduce pain.

In homeopathy, there is a remedy - Latrodectus mactans, which can be taken as an addition to general detoxification therapy.

Precautionary measures

In most cases, spiders attack a person for the purpose of self-defense, so first of all, you should not provoke the insect into self-defense: you should not pick them up, play with the web, or stir up their home.

To avoid accidental encounters with arthropods, you can adhere to the following recommendations:

  • when relaxing in nature, you must wear clothes that cover all parts of the body and use a hat;
  • before going to bed, you should carefully inspect the tent and use a special canopy that needs to be tucked under the bed;
  • in dachas and gardens, it is recommended to carefully inspect clothes and shoes before putting them on;
  • You cannot walk without shoes in forest clearings and in spider habitats;
  • It is better to use it at home for storing things plastic containers, and not cardboard boxes that spiders can easily get into;
  • the premises must be kept clean, in this case spiders have less chance of hiding;
  • in dark corners you can hang glue traps or apply an insecticidal spray, for example, Bros aerosol to fight spiders or Raid to instantly kill insects.

Brown recluse spider bite - video

To avoid a poisonous spider bite, you need to take precautions both at home and in nature. And if an attack occurs, you should immediately provide emergency assistance and, if necessary, consult a doctor.

June 25, 2016

About 400 million years have passed since the first spider appeared on planet Earth. At the moment there are already more than forty thousand species. Spiders are not insects, they are a separate class and a separate order - arachnids.

In the Spiders order and in the Arachnida class there is a family of poisonous creatures - recluse spiders. They pose a great danger to humans, since their bite is invisible, and the poison is very toxic. The brown (or brown) recluse spider is considered the most poisonous of this family. If your place of residence is where this harmful creature lives, you need to be able to recognize it.

Brown recluse spider

One of this family is the brown spider, or brown spider (hermit), its photo is presented below.
These creatures are distinguished by their toxic poison. After an insect bite, complete tissue necrosis occurs in this area. The “lucky” ones who are lucky enough to have such a neighbor as the brown spider (recluse) are residents of the eastern part of the United States.

This poisonous creature of nature cannot be considered one of the friendliest individuals, but, nevertheless, it is distinguished by its activity and moderately annoying character. Perhaps the brown recluse spider would have remained an unremarkable arthropod to this day, but the strange property of its venom attracted the attention of scientists to it. Professor Binford explains that these spiders have been using their venom for about 120 million years.

Habitats of the eight-legged “monster”

This type of spider is found in the midwestern United States, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. They have not yet reached California, but representatives of the Looseness genus live in those places. The red hermit spider is found in Hawaii (see photo below). He is a relative of the eight-legged "monster".

Global warming may cause this arachnid species to move further north. So getting to know its representatives in detail will come in handy. Currently, Georgia, the Mediterranean and South part Russia.

Spiders love to hide in the roots of trees, in animal burrows, and in general wherever there are shady places. Over time, the recluse spider can increasingly be found in the garage, basement, toilet and attic, as well as in sewer hatches. Hermits began to behave like full-fledged neighbors of people, settling in apartments and houses.

Appearance of a little hermit

The brown spider is different small in size. When the legs are spread out, the length of its body is 6-20 mm. This deadly recluse spider is not always easy to spot because it is so small. Females are larger in size than males.

The body is predominantly brown, sometimes gray and dark yellow individuals can be found. The brown recluse spider is also called the fiddle spider. This was facilitated by the fact that the pattern located on the head and chest is very reminiscent of this musical instrument.

A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of 6 eyes instead of 8. Small sensitive hairs are visible on the abdominal part and paws. The legs of the recluse spider are quite long and thin. When he is in a calm state, his paws are widely spaced.

Lifestyle

According to their lifestyle, brown recluse spiders are nocturnal predators. They hunt for food in the dark. Males emerge from their webs and go on night raids to explore distant territories. Females do not do this very willingly; they usually prefer to hunt near their home. For the rest of the day, small nocturnal hunters sit in a secluded place.

The food for the brown recluse spider is everything that falls into traps, the role of which is played by the web. Prey is mainly small insects and other spiders. It is not at all difficult for hermits to obtain food; it does not require much work. Scientists face an unsolved mystery as to why nature endowed this insect with a potent poison. The eight-legged “monsters” live calmly and don’t bother anyone unnecessarily.

Reproduction

The female brown recluse spider, having chosen a secluded place away from prying eyes, begins laying eggs in white cocoon bags. Each such cocoon, woven by the female from the web personally, contains 40-50 eggs. The size of the pouch is about 7.5 mm in diameter.

Numerous brown recluse spiders that are born have many molts before they mature. They change their outfit 5-8 times. These creatures endure such a procedure painfully; it is unpleasant for them. It is possible that this is why hermits show anger and bite painfully.

The discarded spider outfit is quite tough; it can be stored in the ground for a long time. Experienced specialists use it for identification when studying insects of this species. Under natural conditions, a brown recluse spider can live 2-4 years.

Recluse spider bite - danger to humans

For people, the most terrible animals, oddly enough, are poisonous spiders. They can quietly approach their prey and deliver a “stab in the back.” It is clear that there is no one who wants to be in her place! Among the most dangerous arthropods in the world are hermit spiders. The venom of these animals is a slow-acting one, its manifestation can only be noticed several hours after the bite. At first, the person feels a slight tingling or burning sensation. Then everything will depend on how much poison has entered the body. If you get a lot of it, after 5-6 hours the bite site will begin to swell and a blister will appear. The following signs appear:

Malfunctions of the heart.
. Intestinal problems (disorder).
. Annoying cough and runny nose.

Often tissue necrosis develops after a spider bite. It is facilitated by the presence of many enzymes in the venom. Necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue delays the healing process for three long years. It is possible that a bite can lead to the death of the victim, which is often observed in young children and the elderly.

Precautionary measures

Although this poisonous creature is not aggressive, if you disturb it, you cannot expect mercy: if it bites, it will bite! It is better to avoid such a situation in time and protect yourself from the deadly poison. To do this, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

Clean the house thoroughly, removing cobwebs in a timely manner.
. Avoid the formation of cracks in the walls; if they appear, immediately cover or plug them.
. Before you put on any items, you need to inspect them carefully.
. Before going to bed, it is also necessary to inspect the sleeping area.
. There should be no trash or boxes under the bed, and the bed itself must not be placed close to the wall.

If you adhere to the above rules, it is quite possible to avoid an attack by a dangerous creature that can bring big trouble.

Need help for a brown spider bite

When a brown spider bites you, you should immediately do everything possible to stop the spread of the venom. You can put ice on the bite site. Be sure to treat the wound with one of the antiseptics and, of course, seek medical help.

Previously, during treatment, the damaged area of ​​skin was surgically removed. Currently, therapy is carried out with antibiotics. If a person applies on time, serum is administered.

IN Everyday life we don't pay attention to spiders. They live their lives, and we live ours. At the same time, no one bothers each other. The only trouble lies in the cobwebs that accumulate in the corners of the room, and which have to be removed from time to time. But are spiders as harmless as they seem at first glance? For the most part, they do not pose any danger to humans, with the exception of some of their species, which include the brown recluse spider.

At first glance, he is completely harmless. This is a small, inconspicuous creature with long legs. The diameter of its body is no more than seven millimeters. The legs are slightly longer, reaching two centimeters in length. Inexplicably local residents call it the big brown spider? But let’s not rush to conclusions, because everything has its own reason.

The spider leads a solitary lifestyle and is active only at night. During the day, he hides in a secluded place, trying to remain unnoticed. That is why he was nicknamed the hermit. He does not weave any webs, and tries not to leave traces of his presence. For the nest it chooses a remote, darkened and secluded place. The main thing is that it is dry and warm there.

The body of the spider is covered with hair, dark brown or dark yellow. On the cephalothorax you can see an original design, very similar to a violin. It is by this that the spider is identified. He has three pairs of eyes. He always protects the nest with a sticky cobweb network, with a rather chaotic pattern. When in danger, the spider takes a threatening pose. He rests on his hind legs and extends his front legs towards the attacker.

The brown recluse spider is endemic to the Americas. It can be found in the eastern regions of the United States.

The hermit spider hunts somewhat differently than its fellow tribesmen. To capture the victim, he does not weave nets, but kills him with his poison. He hunts at night. Having discovered an insect, the hermit instantly attacks it and inflicts poisonous bite. The poison acts instantly. It is incredibly toxic. This is a viscous, colorless substance that destroys cellular tissue in a matter of seconds. There is no antidote for it.

Nature gave the spider a long life. He lives for about six years. To bring offspring, the female finds a secluded place, weaves a cocoon, into which she lays up to fifty eggs. During the entire incubation period, she does not leave the nest and guards it vigilantly. As the spiders grow, they molt eight times. Thus, they get rid of the chitinous shell.

A person has a special relationship with a recluse spider. The spider is a frequent visitor. It's all because of warm housing, with a lot of secluded and dry corners in which you can hide. You can meet it in attics, sheds, and summer houses. Sometimes they climb into basements, enter living spaces, climb under baseboards, and hide in furniture. The spider never attacks first. He becomes aggressive only in case of danger. If you accidentally step on it, trouble cannot be avoided. The bite is painful, very unpleasant, and may well be fatal. The poison does not affect humans immediately, but after six hours. The pain intensifies, the bite site becomes inflamed, dizziness, weakness appear, and the temperature rises. After some time, an ulcer forms at the site of the bite. If you don't provide it on time medical care, tissue necrosis occurs. The treatment process is quite lengthy and takes six months. If the human body is weakened, then death cannot be avoided.

To avoid becoming a victim of a spider, you must follow the following measures security?

  1. Install mosquito nets on the windows.
  2. Inspect shoes and clothing every time.
  3. Before you go to bed, you need to examine your bed.
  4. Clean the premises using products personal protection(rubber gloves, boots, apron).
  5. Destroy harmful insects, flies and mosquitoes that the spider preys on.

Gangrenous ecthyma.

Necrotizing cabbage soup and vasculitis. Necrotizing fasciitis.

Pyoderma gangrenosum.

Polyarteritis nodosa.

Treatment

To effectively treat most bites, only supportive measures are sufficient.

Mild localized reactions are treated by applying ice, cold, wet compresses, keeping the bite site elevated, and prescribing mild analgesics. Cold limits sphingomyelinase D. Necrotic skin areas require routine local measures to treat wounds and ulcers. Surgical debridement is usually not necessary.

■ Antibiotics and tetanus toxoid are prescribed according to indications.

To prevent severe necrosis, dapsone is prescribed at a dose of 50-100 mg/day orally.

■ Data on the use of systemic steroids are conflicting.

Nuances

A sufficiently high degree of suspicion for a bite is required to make an appropriate diagnosis.

■ Brown recluse spider bites can cause a severe dermal necrosis reaction that can be mistaken for other systemic diseases.

The characteristic dark violin-shaped marking is located on the back of the spider. The wide base of the “violin” is located closer to the head, and the neck of the “violin” points in the direction of the abdomen.

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