Bite
Brown Recluses bite humans as a defense mechanism, usually when a foot, hand or arm accidentally gets too close. Despite the powerful cytotoxins and hemolytic (i.e., red-blood-cell-destroying) compounds contained in the venom, the bite itself is usually not painful. Within the first few minutes, though, a vague stinging sensation can arise.
Worsening Pain
Over the next six to eight hours, the myriad enzymes in the venom (most notably sphingomyelinase D) kill tissue and trigger a cascade of immune responses designed to "quarantine" the venom from the body. The patient begins to experience intense pain and itching at the bite site, as well as possible blistering, swelling or pustule formation.
"Bull's Eye" Wound
Meanwhile, the destruction of red blood cells cuts off the supply of oxygen to the skin, creating a zone of gray, oxygen-deprived tissue. The bite appears as a small, bright red dot surrounded by a wide ring of grayish or yellow skin with a light red corona.
Subsequent Symptoms
If it enters the bloodstream through a capillary, the venom will start to affect the entire body (a condition known as "systemic loxoscelism"). If after these skin-related symptoms you experience fever, nausea, dizziness, chills or a rash of red-colored dot on your body in areas outside of the bite (a condition called "morbilliform rash"), it means that the venom is circulating in your bloodstream.
This could quickly lead to seizures, kidney failure or even coma. Rather than waiting to see whether systemic loxoscelis will set in, call 911 as soon as you notice the bull's eye wound pattern.
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