Can Spiders Give You MRSA?
WouterSpider bites can be a symptom of a variety of bacterial and viral infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These bacteria are hard to distinguish from common minor skin abrasions and can cause life-threatening infections.
If you or someone you know has been bitten by a spider, there are steps you can take to prevent a MRSA infection. In addition to avoiding contact with the spider, you should consult a doctor if you feel you may have been bitten by MRSA.
MRSA infections are typically asymptomatic in healthy individuals, but patients with compromised immune systems are at greater risk. In addition to being difficult to diagnose and treat, MRSA is also easily transmitted.
The symptoms of an MRSA infection include fever, swollen glands, warmth, and pus-filled bumps or lesions on the skin. The body’s immune system responds to these conditions by sending white blood cells to fight off the infection. If left untreated, the infection can spread internally and affect multiple organ systems.
MRSA is often mistaken for other infections, such as necrotic arachnidism, because the two share similar appearances. However, MRSA is much harder to treat than most strains of staph.
Symptoms of a staph infection can include fever, painful, swollen, red, and warm skin, and pus-filled bumps or lesions. These symptoms are especially likely to occur after a hospital stay.
MRSA is particularly difficult to treat because it has a strong resistance to many antibiotics. In fact, the majority of MRSA cases are community-acquired.
