Necrotic bug bite--when to seek medical attention?

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I noticed a bug bite on my arm 3 days ago. it was itchy and painful and swollen so I couldn't tell what had bit me but I figured it was a house spider since I haven't been outside much lately, we've seen some spiders emerging with the warmer weather. Almost as soon as I noticed the bite it turned necrotic and looked dark blue under the skin. the next day I had a fluid-filled blister over it. I accidentally broke open the blister today and it is uncomfortable, but there's no more black tissue, just a little chunk missing out of my arm, maybe 1/4 inch around but it's really red and swollen around it. It's been many years since I had a necrotic spider bite, when do I seek medical care? The internet isn't much help because it just tells me to see a doctor for a necrotic bite but i don't really want to walk into an urgent care with everything that is going on. I should mention the only other time I remember having a necrotic bite I didn't go to the doctor because I didn't have health insurance, it was a much bigger would and it took months to heal but I didn't have any issues with it. If there's anyone on here that is a doctor or nurse, or has had this issue before, I'd greatly appreciate some guidance.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

If you have insurance, I think making a telehealth appointment would be a great way to get good medical advice without having to go to an ER or urgent care.

 

[Searc]

Do you have neosporin or hydrogen peroxide? I'd try that for a couple days and see if it makes a difference. If it starts looking worse or the redness spreads, go to Urgent Care.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Do you have neosporin or hydrogen peroxide? I'd try that for a couple days and see if it makes a difference. If it starts looking worse or the redness spreads, go to Urgent Care.

I just put neosporin on it today after I broke the blister. Of course the internet is scaring me, saying I need to get a tetanus shot for a spider bite. That seems excessive but I think the last time I had a tetanus shot was 9 years ago so I guess I might have to get one?

 

[focusondisney]

I think at the very least you need to talk to your medical provider. MRSA can be mistaken for a spider bite. I suggest you call tomorrow.

These are symptoms of a MRSA skin infection:

• Bump that is painful, red, leaking pus, and/or swollen (this may resemble a spider bite, pimple, or boil)
• Bumps under the skin that are swollen or hard to the touch.
• Skin around a sore that is warm or hot to the touch.
• Bump that grows rapidly and/or does not heal.

(yes, I’m a nurse).

 

[elphaba91]

If you have insurance, I think making a telehealth appointment would be a great way to get good medical advice without having to go to an ER or urgent care.

This. So many people are ignoring treatable medical problems at the moment because they’re scared of going to the doctor or worried about being a burden on the system and then by the time they do get treatment it’s much more severe. It definitely sounds to me like you need antibiotics. I’d take some clear photos beforehand in case your doctor wants you to email them across.

 

[cvjw]

I would go to a minute clinic at cvs or the equivalent. They are having everyone wait in their car until the nurse is ready to see them. Make an appt on line. Then, you can get medicine at the pharmacy in the same building, if needed. Same risk as going to the grocery store.

I would not go to my normal doctors office right now. Too risky in my book.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I think at the very least you need to talk to your medical provider. MRSA can be mistaken for a spider bite. I suggest you call tomorrow.

These are symptoms of a MRSA skin infection:

• Bump that is painful, red, leaking pus, and/or swollen (this may resemble a spider bite, pimple, or boil)
• Bumps under the skin that are swollen or hard to the touch.
• Skin around a sore that is warm or hot to the touch.
• Bump that grows rapidly and/or does not heal.

(yes, I’m a nurse).

Thanks, I'll call. I'm tempted to let a spider bite go but I'm not messing around with mrsa!

 

[ronandannette]

Thanks, I'll call. I'm tempted to let a spider bite go but I'm not messing around with mrsa!

Please do let us know how you make out.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Please do let us know how you make out.

I was able to schedule a virtual visit with urgent care, he prescribed an antibiotic cream called muprocin and told me if it gets worse i will need oral antibiotics. He couldn't tell wh ether it was a bite or some other kind of infection but said even if it was MRSA that this topical ointment should treat it.

 

[low-key]

stop being a women, women, and just rub some dirt on it

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

stop being a women, women, and just rub some dirt on it

stop being a women, women, and just rub some dirt on it

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Hopefully it is not a brown recluse spider. I don't know if you have those in your area or not. I have heard horror stories about those things. I remember working as a teller I saw a guy with a really messed up looking arm, it was like a crater was missing out of his skin. I didn't ask, he actually volunteered that it was a brown recluse bite, said he almost lost his arm.

Those things are like my worst fear.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Hopefully it is not a brown recluse spider. I don't know if you have those in your area or not. I have heard horror stories about those things. I remember working as a teller I saw a guy with a really messed up looking arm, it was like a crater was missing out of his skin. I didn't ask, he actually volunteered that it was a brown recluse bite, said he almost lost his arm.

Those things are like my worst fear.

You and me both! I live in PA, I think those are more warm climate spiders? I have had 2 necrotic spider bites in my life, the first one I got in my early 20s and I ended up with a cavity about the size of a nickel, it was gross. Now this one is very small, about 1/4 inch across. It's gross but at least the black stuff has gone away and I've just got this crater that is partially filled with a scab. It already looks much better and is not so swollen and red. Still itchy and uncomfortable but I guess that's just the healing process. The doctor also advised me to take benedryl to help with the effects of the bite but I chose not to because it knocks me out and I don't want to be passed out in a benedryl coma while I'm supposed to be taking care of my kids. I'm doing ok, but the spider bite theory explains why I was so sick last week; I was so tired and sore and run-down, my brain was foggy and I was having heart palpitations and I blamed it all on anemia and started taking my iron pills, but now I'm wondering if it was a reaction to a spider bite? I found the bite like a day later and it was already black underneath. I guess I'll never know what caused the symptoms but it can't hurt to take the iron because I'm always low anyway.

 

[n2dzny]

Give an update when you can.

 

[ronandannette]

Just curious - can something with venom that toxic bite you without you feeling it? I've had several wasp stings and man, the pain was excruciating. I've also been bitten by an ant and actually expected to see blood gushing, it hurt so much.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I wrote this yesterday but didn’t post. Seeing your post about not feeling well I will now post.

How do you define necrotic? I think of it as dead tissue that has a putrid smell and sometimes needs to be debrieded.

I was thinking of MRSA as well. But where would you have picked that up? (Community acquired.)

I don’t want to scare you but are you aware that there are some skin rashes associated with Covid?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/me...vid-19-observed-by-dermatologists/ar-BB12W9Xg
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cl...-in-coronavirus-diagnosis.html?outputType=amp

 

[VandVsmama]

Generally speaking, if you're asking yourself, "Should I go see a doctor about this?" then yes, you should go see a doctor about it.

 

[Searc]

Generally speaking, if you're asking yourself, "Should I go see a doctor about this?" then yes, you should go see a doctor about it.

She did.

 

[maxaroni]

I wrote this yesterday but didn’t post. Seeing your post about not feeling well I will now post.

How do you define necrotic? I think of it as dead tissue that has a putrid smell and sometimes needs to be debrieded.

I was thinking of MRSA as well. But where would you have picked that up? (Community acquired.)

I don’t want to scare you but are you aware that there are some skin rashes associated with Covid?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/me...vid-19-observed-by-dermatologists/ar-BB12W9Xg
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cl...-in-coronavirus-diagnosis.html?outputType=amp

It’s awful. My DH had a brown recluse spider bite that went into necrotizing fasciitis and nearly lost his leg as they could not stop the spread going up his leg. One last leg saving effort was doubling both antibiotics to measures that no one should be taking. The docs were in communication with other infectious disease doctors. Horrible. They saved his leg but his calf is bad and high risk of cellulitis in that leg. He’s had cellulitis bringing him to the edge of sepsis.

My dad had MRSA so bad that they were debrieding it every other day and he had a wound vac to help. Truly horrible experience.

Don’t wish any of that on anybody.