Before calling emergency
Before calling emergency, determine the
following:
The patient should be taken to the Emergency Room for treatment. They will treat the symptoms, either with medications or with surgical excision of the bite. The symptoms at the time of the bite may not appear to be very severe and may take a while to progress to a more severe state. However, treatment is important to minimize the damage done from the bite. If possible, bring the spider to the emergency room for identification.
Call 911, Poison Control, or a local emergency number
When you call, you will be instructed on what to do immediately following the bite, and then the patient should be taken to the Emergency Room. See Poison Control Centers for telephone numbers and addresses.
Prognosis
There have been fatalities linked to brown recluse spider bites and they are more common in children. With proper medical attention, survival past 48 hours usually indicates that recovery will follow. The ulceration (rash) may take up to six weeks to heal, with proper care.
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