The brown recluse

In another thread I found myself shuddering at the prospect of a five foot scorpion (remember that movie "Clash of the Titans"?). However, the brown recluse, with it's dangerous bite, serves to remind that it doesn't have to be big to be bad.

In all the years I've been at Ft Hood, Texas, we've had six squadron members bitten by "fiddlebacks". Only two were bitten in the field, the other four were bitten in their homes. Don't have to worry about five foot scorpions around here, but if I take a blanket out of the closet that's been stored for a while, I shake it out pretty good before it goes on my bed. :eek:

Sarge
 
Note: spraying for the recluse DOES NOT WORK foggers kill all the other bugs, then
the lil brown buggers become carrion eaters and breed more in the new "land o plenty"
you have now created
DEET works well to keep them away
and geckos' work great if you dont mind lizards (south Florida trick)

I was bit 3 times in one night and would not have even thought of going to the ER if one bite had not been on a lymph node( back of the head just under hair line) and was causing un godly pain

If you even think you were bit get it checked out
the $$ will be well spent if it turns out you were
 
I had a friend die from a recluse bite in the 80's. It bit him on his thigh and he
was big old fat guy and the stress on his system was just to much for him.
First the bite went gangrenous in a day and he was dead in 3 days.

I think one got Faith Hill on the face in MO, but she obviously recovered.:thumbup:
 
From what I've heard, reactions to the bite vary quite a bit. Some people go gangrenous big time in only a day or two and need immediate surgery, other people just get the equivalent of a little red pimple that goes away on its own after a week or so.
 
all have been nailed by that little varmint. All three required medical attention. Only the first actually saw the spider that bit him. The others went to the doctor with a wierd swelling and pain and were diagnosed as a Recluse attack without ever being aware.
 
My daughter was bitten a couplwe of years ago. Did some research. Apparently the venom is a vasoconstrictor. This is what causes the necrosis. Some FP doc in Louisiana came up with treating the wound with nitroglycerin patches. This dilates the vessels and restore blood flow to the area. Not widely used, but worked like a charm on my daughter. Limited the amount of necrosis considerably. Needs to be started as soon as you determine the bite. Watch out for skin infections. A common complication from spider bites. My daughter had areas that looked like bites showing up in different areas on her leg. We at first thought the venom was traveling through the lymph system, but it showed up on the other leg and we determined it was an infection she was spreading by shaving her legs! A round of antibiotics cleared it up. This is not a widly accepted treatment, so you will have to insist that your physician write you a script for the patches.
Terry
 
I know an old Medicine Man that was bitten 3 or 4 times. He almost lost his leg. He treated it with plantain. I heard there are some kind of clays or something that might work. Dangerous little critters. Thanks for the pics, I didn't know what they looked like before.
 
scary little monsters, arent they ?
Spider2.jpg
 
I was visiting some family friends in OK once, and I smashed some little brown critter in the sink with my hand. Turned out it was a recluse. Good thing their little daughter didn't find it!

Chris
 
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