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Related Experiment Videos

Identifying and misidentifying the brown recluse spider.

R Vetter1

  • 1Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.

Dermatology Online Journal
|February 16, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Brown recluse spider bites are often blamed for necrotic skin lesions, but this is usually incorrect outside their natural range. Misdiagnosis leads to unnecessary treatments for presumed spider bites.

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Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Toxicology
  • Arachnology

Background:

  • The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is frequently suspected as the cause of necrotic skin lesions.
  • Diagnosis is typically based on clinical presentation, with actual spider identification being rare.
  • Loxosceles reclusa is endemic to the south central U.S., with related species in the Southwest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the accuracy of brown recluse spider bite diagnoses for necrotic skin lesions.
  • To differentiate between confirmed cases and misdiagnoses, particularly outside the spider's natural habitat.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical diagnoses and etiological investigations of necrotic skin lesions.
  • Geographical analysis of Loxosceles reclusa distribution versus reported bite locations.
  • Assessment of diagnostic accuracy based on available evidence.

Main Results:

  • While brown recluse spiders can cause significant morbidity within their endemic regions, they are often erroneously implicated in necrotic lesions elsewhere.
  • Outside the natural range of Loxosceles species, the belief in their causative role is widespread but largely unsubstantiated.
  • Overdiagnosis is common in areas like California, leading to inappropriate medical treatment.

Conclusions:

  • The diagnosis of brown recluse spider bites for necrotic lesions outside the spider's natural geographic range is frequently incorrect.
  • Clinical suspicion alone, without confirmed identification, contributes to misdiagnosis and the perpetuation of "urban legends."
  • Accurate etiological diagnosis is crucial to prevent overdiagnosis and ensure appropriate patient management.

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