Think You've Got Spider Bites? Think Again.

Many of my patients complain of "spider bites" as a reason for skin sores that appear red, painful, swollen and itchy. Most of these people never saw the spider that supposedly caused the "bites", but assume nevertheless that a spider bite was the cause of the sores. Physicians also commonly misdiagnose skin lesions as spider bites, even though spider bites only rarely occur. The more likely cause of these sore, especially when there are multiple, is a skin infection caused by community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). So if you think you're getting multiple or recurrent spider bites -- think again -- it could be a skin infection.

Read more:

• Spider Bite or Skin Infection?
• All About Spider Bites
• More on Insect Stings and Bites