michanna: (Tornado)
michanna ([personal profile] michanna) wrote2010-03-07 02:29 am
Entry tags:

Learnings

So something bit me in Australia. Seemed like a normal bite, not even very itchy as far as me and bites go. I scratched it a little, idly, as one does, but in never turned into the inflamed ball of fury that spider bites usually inflict upon me.

However, about 3 days after I first noticed it, it turned into a giant blister. Most annoying, the blister was kind of painful and it STILL ITCHED. It’s still a little blistery, though less angry, and still a little itchy.

My friends told me that I should keep an eye on it for purple rings or for travelling lines on my leg of black or red, all of which would indicate necrosis. None of this has occurred. However, my Australian friends still council that I should get it checked out.

Shall I see how my travel insurance works?

Originally published at Teri's NZ Adventures.
You can comment here or there.

chameleongirl79: (Default)

[personal profile] chameleongirl79 2010-03-06 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, you could wait until the numbness that indicates nerve damage to set in, but I'm sure a doctor's visit would be the safer option :)

[identity profile] narikalen.livejournal.com 2010-03-07 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Uh. You know what I'm gonna say.

[identity profile] shihadchick.livejournal.com 2010-03-07 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
My vote would kind of be that if the Aussies think you should get it checked out, you should get it checked out. :/ This is why travel insurance exists, at least! *hugs, worries*

[identity profile] strayfish.livejournal.com 2010-03-07 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
I just did a project on this (necrotic arachnidism)... Actually, you saw a piece of it in my MSN icon...

You should probably get it checked out. Even though some spiders are cabable of producing necrotic bites, only a small proportion of bites will actually become necrotic (due to inefficiency of bites and whatnot). So it could still be a spider bite.

If it hasn't fallen off or given you kidney failure by now though, it probably won't.

[identity profile] strayfish.livejournal.com 2010-03-07 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah. Purple rings are bad, but I'd say you should also watch out for a white ring surrounding the bister, surrounded by redness/inflammation. That could indicate ischemia (lack of oxygen from degeneration of blood vessels) and can also lead to necrosis.