A brown recluse spider bite sent this woman to the emergency and here is what you need to know about them

You might think that finding a crowd of potentially life-threatening spiders in your home looks like something from a horror movie, but for Brentwood, Tenn., Resident Angela Wright, this creeping infestation was too real. Wright told CBS News that she had woken up one morning with "arm pain and a few bumps on her chest and arm", but was not too worried at first. His symptoms did not improve even after he was given medication to help calm the bumps. Eventually, Wright developed acute chest pain and felt as if she was "hallucinating," according to CBS, in what turned out to be a serious reaction to brown recluse spider bites.

Wright told CBS that spider bites blood clots have formed in his lungs. Metro reports that Wright was bitten at least three times by brown recluse spiders, and that about 50 of them were found later in his room. The recluse brown spider venom contains a potentially life-threatening neurotoxin that can cause chills, fever and hallucinations. And Pennsylvania State University notes that brown recluse bites are not always painful at first, but that venom has "necrotic or cytotoxic properties" that are destructive to body tissues and can even cause gangrene.

Penn State further reports that the symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite usually appear about seven hours after a bite, which takes on a blistering appearance that tends to increase in size over time. Some people are particularly sensitive to brown recluse venom and may experience severe reactions like Wright; symptoms may include flu, nausea, rash, jaundice and seizures, while severe cases can be fatal.

Brown recluse spiders can be found in 15 US states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas . Brown recluse spiders can also be found in Oregon and Washington, and some cases have been reported in Arizona, California, Washington DC, Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Spiders have a chocolate brown appearance with long legs.

For people with severe reactions, such as Wright, brown recluse bites can have long-term consequences: Wright told CBS that she needed to take anticoagulants for life to prevent the formation of new clots blood.

For those in states or regions where brown recluse spiders occur, there are ways to help prevent bites. Medical News Today, while the brown recluse spider is super toxic, bites are relatively rare as they generally prefer to run away rather than biting. About ten percent of those bitten will develop serious injuries or complications, notes Medical News Today, and death is rare. Still, it is important to take steps to prevent and treat bites as much as possible. If you are bitten by a brown recluse, see a doctor immediately – this will give you the best chance of a quick recovery with minimal complications. Those with weakened immune systems or medical conditions such as diabetes have a higher risk of complications, so it is essential to see a doctor immediately if you have been bitten or suspect a brown recluse bite.

The best way to avoid bites is to avoid places where brown recluse spiders live as much as possible; they tend to hang around in piles of wood and stones, so clean them as much as possible and wear gloves if you think you might be at risk when working outside. In addition, spiders tend to gravitate towards dark places in the home – such as attics, closets and basements – and could nest in clothes or sheets that have not been used for a while. , so be sure to carefully inspect these areas. Medical News Today notes that preventative measures are fairly simple, and can go a long way in preventing brown recluse bites. If you live in an area where brown recluse spiders live, take the necessary steps to avoid bites and infestations, and consult your doctor if you end up with a sting.