A 17-YEAR-OLD Griffith man spent New Year’s Eve in hospital after he was bitten by a redback spider.
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The man, who did not want to be named, said he initially thought he was bitten by a mosquito while attending a party at a friend’s house.
“When it bit me, I thought it was a mosquito as I was getting bitten by them all night,” he said.
“Naturally, I slapped it, noticing a large black smear on my hand. I did not think anything of it. After that, we moved inside to get away from the mosquitos and that is when the pain started.”
The man said the pain felt like a bee sting.
“Shortly after that, shooting pains went up the affected limb (my right leg). I began to limp and could not walk properly.”
The man called his mother to pick him up from the party because he began to experience severe abdominal pain.
“In the car home, I began to become anxious, fidgety and the pain then went to my back, arms, head, the other leg, stomach and chest. I began to have trouble breathing and became very thirsty.”
The man was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
“I had never felt anything like how I did,” he said.
“I could not breathe properly, my blood pressure was way too high and I could not sit still. I felt like I was paralysed in every part of my body and thought that it was never going to go away.”
He said he finally fell asleep on New Year’s Day after a night of pain.
“When I woke, all the pain was gone, except the pain in my feet,” he said.
“I could not stand up and I could not keep my feet still.”
At about 10.30am he was given a dose of antivenom.
He said he wasn’t given the antivenom sooner because doctors were not sure initially if it was a redback spider that bit him.
“I would recommend if you do see the bug that bit you, collect it and bring it with you to the emergency ward with you so they know what happened.”
The man said the children’s ward staff at Griffith Base Hospital were very caring.
“If it was not for the doctor and the great staff, I would not have had the speedy recovery that I did,” he said.
A MURRUMBIDGEE Local Health District spokesman offered this advice for anyone who is bitten by a redback spider.
- Keep the patient calm by reassuring them
- Take a photo of the spider
- Immobilise the limb
- Wash the bite area with soap and water and apply an ice pack
- Offer the victim an analgesic to ease the pain
- Seek medical treatment.
The spokesman said a pressure bandage was not required.
The spokesman said symptoms could include back, stomach and joint pain, increased heart rate, trouble breathing and vomiting.
He said if a person's symptoms were not severe, they could be monitored at home but should seek medical advice if symptoms became worst.
