Best Treatment for Brown Recluse Spider Bite
At home, applying ice to decrease pain and swelling is the best treatment for a brown recluse spider bite. Conversely, heat hastens tissue destruction. Immediately following a bite, the bitten area must be washed thoroughly with cool water and mild soap. The best home pharmaceutical treatments include ibuprofen, naproxen and other pain relievers. Steroid creams of any kind must not be applied to the bitten area.
Victims should not elevate the affected area above the level of the heart. Likewise, strenuous activity must be avoided, for this can spread the spider's venom through the skin. Victims should not attempt to remove spider venom.
If a wound is suspected to be a brown recluse spider bite, immediately seek medical attention. Prior to prescribing treatment for a brown recluse spider bite, doctors undertake a careful examination of the wound in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Aside from performing medical tests, doctors also evaluate the likelihood of a brown recluse spider bite based on geographical region. If at all possible, the spider in question should be brought with the victim. As of yet, no tests can verify the bite of a brown recluse.
After the wound is diagnosed as a bite, the best prescriptive treatments include tetanus immunizations, pain medications, antibiotics and antihistamines. For the first 96 hours following the bite, doctors also check for tissue death, or necrosis.
Brown Recluse Spider Bite Symptoms
Brown Recluse Spider Toxin Effect on Red Blood Cells