title: Brown recluse spider bites.
abstract: The bite of the brown recluse spider (BRS) is the most severe arthropod cause of necrotic skin lesions. The severity of cutaneous injury due to BRS bites vary from mild erythema to severe necrosis. Rarely, severe systemic reactions occur. Diagnosis may be difficult, since the victim may not feel the bite or see the spider. Treatment must be individually tailored. Proper treatment, reassurance, and rapid followup are helpful in reducing the cutaneous and psychologic discomfort associated with BRS bites.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sams
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*