About this episode
Author: Michael Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: Use the mnemonic NOT RECLUSE to rule out a brown recluse spider bite: Numerous bites (recluse spiders will bite once) Occurence (recluse bites between April- October) Timing (recluse spiders are… get this… reclusive) Red (recluse bites are white/pale) Elevated (recluse bites are flat) Chronic (recluse bites are acute) Large (recluse wounds are small) Ulceration, early (recluse bites ulcerate between 7-14 days) Swollen (recluse bites are flat) Exudative (recluse bites are dry) References: Stoecker WV, Vetter RS, Dyer JA. NOT RECLUSE-A Mnemonic Device to Avoid False Diagnoses of Brown Recluse Spider Bites. JAMA Dermatol. 2017 May 1;153(5):377-378. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.5665. PubMed PMID: 28199453.