Tell us where your bite is (arm, leg, nose, whatever)
Calf of left leg, below knee to the left
Why I think it's a spider bite
Pain, swelling, and images on the web.
What happened
After working in the garden in sweat pants, I noticed an itchy hard spot on my leg. Thinking it was mosquito or ant bite, I wasn't worried. Next morning it had started to swell and get sore with a little black dot in center. It grew worse over 3 1/2 days. I used home remedies, but it was still growing and extremely painful. I finally went to ER and got heavy dose of antibiotics. It got worse. I couldn't touch it, couldn't sleep on left side, and couldn't walk for two days, but I think it is finally getting better 6 days after the initial bite. Lots of necrotic tissue (dead skin and tissue).
Advice
- QUICK AND EARLY TREATMENT!
- Carmex applied at the onset if at all possible.
- Also baking soda poultices.
- Anything to keep it from growing 'cause once it starts, it's very difficult to stop.
Rod Brouhard, First Aid Guide, says:
I'm not sure how much a skin moisturizing product like Carmex would help to treat a potential spider bite. I'm also a bit sketchy on the baking soda. However, there's very little research on home remedies to guide us.
Any expanding rash or bite really should be seen by a doctor for evaluation. Lots of skin rashes and lesions are harmless, but they can also be life-threatening. It takes a doctor to identify the dangerous ones.
Any opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only and are not intended for diagnosis.
