Most brown recluse spider bites go unnoticed at first since they do not hurt much in the beginning, but that typically changes within a few hours, at which point some symptoms of a brown recluse bite show up. Most people experience both sudden pain and itchiness in the affected area about four hours after they are bitten. The bite itself should look red and firm at first, but should appear to heal a little more each day afterward. Nausea and vomiting are often accompanied by a fever after this type of bite, but they should gradually disappear as it heals. Unfortunately, some people notice more serious symptoms of a brown recluse bite, such as blistering and even tissue death.
Directly after the bite occurs, most people notice a red mark that may feel similar to a bee sting or pin prick rather than a serious bite. Within a few hours, the bite may start to hurt, and it might also itch. It will typically remain firm as it heals, which takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The good news is that most spider bites from a brown recluse heal without scarring the skin.
Some symptoms of a brown recluse bite affect the rest of the body, as some patients feel nauseous. They may even vomit or get a fever, causing them to generally feel ill about four hours after they are bitten. In some cases, the muscles just under the bite may ache, as well. Particularly severe bites may cause chills and even shock, though these only occur in rare cases. It should be noted that the amount and severity of the symptoms of a brown recluse bite often depend on the amount of venom that was injected, which can vary greatly; the age and general health of the victim can also make a difference.
Brown recluse bites often heal without incident, despite their bad reputation, but there are some cases that perpetuate their notoriety. For example, some bites develop blisters and a blue tinge, and may take longer than usual to heal. Fortunately, only the worst cases typically result in necrosis, or tissue death, and these are usually caused by a lack of medical care for the bite. Symptoms of a brown recluse bite that indicate that it is serious include a small hole in the skin that is surrounded by blackened skin. This usually results in the skin around it slowly dying, gradually shedding and eventually resulting in a scar.