Spider Bite in Edinburgh

[scooters]

Dear all, my wife and kids spent the excellent weather on Monday in the Royal Botanical Gardens here in Edinburgh.

During thier picnic, she recalls a sharp pinch and brushing somthing off her right wrist, at the time, dealing with two toddlers she gave it no thought but within an hour her wrist had swollen into an area the size of a five pound note, red, hot and hard. the swelling was a good two centimeters above the skin level. This has not really gone down, fever or physical symtoms are difficult to isolate as a summer cold is present.

This morning, Wednesday, the swelling is still present, hotter and a group of blisters near the bite site. I had a good look and suspect a spider of some type - there are 2 parallel bite marks whish have clearly broken the skin. They are about 1-2mm long and about 0.25 mm wide and have a gap between them of between 0.25mm and 0.5mm.

I don't know of any native biting insects that leave a bite like this which is why I suspect an arachnid.

My wife is particularly susceptible to reacting to bites. I grew up in the west of Scotland and have over the years developed immunity to reacting to a midge bite, I still get bitten but there is only a tiny blood blister with no itching. Nicky, on the other hand swells up to a 10p and is very itchy for days.

I did suspect a cleg but there is no evidence of the skin having been scraped or sawed away - the fang marks are distinctive.

Any ideas?

Given that it was in the Botanical Gardens there possibly could be a foreign visitor who has hitched a ride on an exotic plant. However, I do know there are some UK spiders that can bite, the garden and money spiders seem to be common and active.

Unfortunately we did not get a glimpse of the culprit!

Given the reaction we are considering going to the clinic to get her an antihystimine shot as it is showing no sign of healing quickly.

your thoughts would be appreciated and I do know that given the scanty information, will be conjecture but that would be welcome.

thanks

[Farplace]

I dont know the answer, but it could be a foreign import. However, if your wife is particularly sensitive to bites and stings, it could be something much less sinister. Has she seen the doctor? And have you had a chat to the RBG? I think they should know, even if they cant DO anything.


EDIT: Just realised this is your 1st post. Welcome to WAB!!

[scooters]

thanks and thanks for your kind welcome.

I have emailed the RBGS describing the above. I do belive they have a specialist resident so it will be interesting to see what he or she makes of it.

It's a shame that she didn't get a glimpse of the beastie then we would have an idea.

She seems to be miffed that I am more intersted in the type of spider and bite than the discomfort!...lacking moral fibre!

[Farplace]

Originally Posted by scooters

She seems to be miffed that I am more intersted in the type of spider and bite than the discomfort!...lacking moral fibre!

Im sorry, but I would be the same

[earthdragon64]

Don't discount a cleg, I've had plenty of bad reactions to cleg bites, some with almost the exact symptoms you are describing.

I got bitten by a cleg on Sunday and am now on a course of antibiotics and antihistamines, I'd really recommend your wife see a GP if she hasn't already.

Welcome to WAB, and tell her at least one person sympathises with her symptoms.

Regards, Audrey.

[Geoff F]

A fly certainly seems more likely.

And it doesn't have to be something large and dramatic like a Cleg. I still have an itchy lump on my ankle from 3 years ago; and it still won't completely heal up.

That I suspect was a small greyish fly which looks like a Muscid species but I never have identified it. There is one part of a wood where I won't go anymore. And they even bite through thin clothing.

And from another site, I have obtained several itchy bites recently, and once again through clothing. In each case, I never felt the bite.

But luckily, I rarely get as bad a reaction as your wife; but I know some people who really suffer.