I have recently developed a rash of sorts on my left big toe (Yes, the one
I said I was going to cut off - and I STILL am, as soon as I can get something
adequete for wound-coterization.)  While it seems reminiscent of a chigger
bite, the only insect that bit me on the foot lately did it about a week ago.
Maybe I'm just having a brush with that Swimmer's whatsit.  Anyway, it really
like hurts and stuff.

22 responses total.

Have you ever tried tea tree oil on it?

Nope.  The pain, at least, has subsided on its own.  The mark remains.

 <a hot branding iron cauterizes pretty well, heh  ;)  >

NOT to be taken seriously!


If the rash subsides you're probably out of the woods.  Watch out for chills,
fever, red streaking, swelling, warmth (of the toe), or any other unusual
signs.  If you see any of these, get it checked by a doc.

You might have has a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to that bite you were
aware of (a week ago), but more likely, you got bit again and didn't know it.
Could be just about anything...bug or arachnid.  Not likely "swimmers itch"
but I've learned to never say never.

I have a forest surronding my house, so there is a possibility, however slim,
that 'twas poison ivy.  As for not knowing about such a bite, the insect that
bit me hurt real bad at the time - I doubt I'd be able to ignore that kind
of insect biting me.  I burned and cut my feet up on the hot asphalt and loose
gravel on my way to the lake today - I should remember how deceptive it is
when you have a forest around your house . . .

You wouldn't get poison ivy on just your big toe. 

I don't touch my big toe that often (normally only when I'm bathing), and
there is so little poison ivy in my forest that it is entirely possible that
the leaf would touch only one toe.  Come to think of it, since it stopped
hurting ever since I washed it - it probably was.

I took care of a guy the other day that was bitten on 
the leg by a spider.  He'll be fortunate if, when all
the surgery is over, they are able to salvage the
leg.  I forget the specific spider involved.  It had
a two-part name.

Mary says the spider was a "brown recluse". Our Encarta
encyclopedia indicates that it's found in the central United
States and that it's bite is quite dangerous. Anybody know
more about it? Is it common in Michigan?

No, don't know anything about it, but would really appreciate any information
forthcoming as we tend to have mucho spiders in my house.  I would like to
know which ones to (have Jerry) kill and which ones are okay to leave alone.

My distribution map for the brown recluse indicates they occur as close
as Missouri. The map also shows that the Black Widow does not occur this far
north. I vaguely recall, however, that one or the other has been found in
Michigan (or has been brought into Michigan on someone's mobile home).

Bjorn, once the pison ivy poison has started to act, washing will have no
effect at all. You have to wash off the sap before it is absorbed. The
leaf of the plant is much larger than a toe, so more of you would have
contacted it if any part did. I support the insect bite or swimmer's
itch theory.

The brown recluse is one of the few poisonous spiders which are found in
Michigan.  Black widows are rare here, but I've learned that what was said
in Jurassic Park is true..."life will find a way".  You never really know what
you'll find, so be cautious and expect the unexpected.

The brown recluse (and other poisonous spiders, I think) makes a circular web
with circular striations and "spokes" extending out from the center like a
wheel.  When present, the spider sits in the center of the web and waits for
its prey to trigger an impulse by touching it...then it can strike with
lightning speed.  I don't know if these spiders "attack" when they are 'on
the move', but perhaps Bjorn's foot caught a web and he got bit while he was
in full stride.  That could make sense.

I'm not so sure about the swimmers itch theory.  While there is a form of
parasitic infection known as "swimmers itch" which involves a parasite that
burrows into the skin and travels around, causing a burning itch, this is
usually from tropical salt water swimming (including our southeast, southwest
and gulf coasts).  If you see the trail of itching, cauterize the _leading
edge_ of the trail with a red-hot pin, or match, or the like.  That kills the
parasite and the 'trail' will eventually resolve (but DO seek professional
help since secondary infections/complications are possible).

The kind of swimmers itch we see in Michigan is a bacterial infection (or,
was it a mold spore?  I'll have to refresh myself on that one.) which has,
as a host in its life cycle some fresh water snail or mussle.  When the snails
and mussles are reproducing they spread the organism.  The infection involves
a generalized rash, itching, and even an allergic-type reaction.  It can be
avoided by rinsing off with clear water after swimming in contaminated water,
and drying quickly, rather than air drying in the sun.  Topical
antihistamines like Benadryl spray, lotion, liquid, can alleviate the itching.

Could also have been because my sandle strap was too tight - but I don't think
that would itch.  Hurt yes, itch no.  We do have lots of spiders, of lots of
breeds 'round here.
Anyway, it's going away what ever it was.

I don't kill any spiders in our house (if I see them).

Swimmers itch is a condition that results when the larval form of a
waterfowl parasite (called cercariae) accidentally penetrate into the skin
of sensitive individuals. The parasites die, but cause an allergic
reaction. 

A few years back there was a news story about someone locally who was bitten
by a brown recluse spider.  The spider was on wood he was carrying in to burn
in a fireplace.  As I recall, a large amount of tissue "died" due to the bite
and the person was in bad shape for a while.  It seems he was bitten on the
stomach.

The wound is closing - the only dead tissue is that which was dead at the time
of the occurence of whatever the heck happened.

Yep, a brown recluse bite can eat the skin... it just kills the tissue and
as far as  I know, healthy new skin hasn't a chance in hell of returning. We
have them here in TN. Never seen one up cllose (i really hate spiders) but
they are brown (duh) with a whitish violin-shaped mark on their backs.

Let's see the kinds of spiders I've seen around here (in size and shape
terms): Fat, Black ones remiscent of the Black Widow but with no red hourglass
on their backs; Greyish-blue ones with brown dots, body looks like that of
a tick, legs seem like "Daddy" longlegs; and the species I just mentioned -
not there aren't more varieties around this pine forest . . .

I think Black Widows have the red hourglass mark on their abdomen, not back.

I know what a Black Widow looks like - one crawled into Richards hall one
night.

i rememebr seeing one at girlscout camp a few years ago (the recluse), and
we were told at the time that it was pretty not-uncommon in michigan

Kenn (wolfmage) has some icky brown recluse stories from spending time in 
"the South". I actually encountered one at the Midas a couple weeks ago. 
I was mopping the lobby floor and this *huge* brown spider zipped out 
from under a chair. It had the approprite markings, and I now understand 
the "fiddleback" reference. I will never get over how big it was! I was 
standing, the spider was about two feet away from my feet, and I could 
*clearly* see its eyes.
<bleggggggh! shudder> Poor thing died under a wet mop.

At least 10 years ago, while the U.Mich. library had some books stored 
in the Argus building,  I remember hearing that brown recluse spiders 
had been found there.  I was happy  that I wasn't personally involved 
with anything coming *out* of storage.

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