Brown recluse spider bites can be very dangerous if you are ever bitten by one of these insects. This particular type of spider isn't the typical everyday spider you would see. This spider can be dangerous as it has a venomous bite and if the bite is not treated in a timely manner, things can become fatal.

Recent reports out of Arkansas and Kansas from brown recluse spider bite recipients aren’t for the faint of heart, but are a powerful reminder that if you believe you’ve been bitten, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

Kiara Boulton of West Memphis, Arkansas noticed she had a spider bite when she stepped out of the shower and saw a bump on her foot. She went to the hospital for further diagnosis and was prescribed medicine, but it didn’t help. Days later her toe turned black and she started limping. The bite required her to have her toe amputated, but since the infection spread, she also needed her entire leg amputated. She has had seven surgeries since then.

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Likewise, Tamara Owsley of Topeka, Kansas suffered terribly from a brown recluse bite as well after she walked into a web while playing hide and seek. She disregarded the bump on her arm until it continued to grow and she then sought medical assistance. She was hospitalized for 41 days to treat the infection, known as the flesh eating disease necrotizing fasciitis, which attacks the skin underlying the muscles, nerves, fat, and blood tissues. She has had 15 surgeries and most of her arm has been removed.

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These are definitely two terrifying accounts of the damage that brown recluse spiders can do.

DoYouRemember.com explores what you should do about a spider bite like these, noting that, according to Rick Vetter, a retired professor at the University of California, doctors have difficulty with the diagnosis. Vetter noted: “There is no way to test spider venom in part because the beads lodged under the skin are so minuscule, and doctors often diagnose based on ruling out other conditions and self-reports from patients.”

The site further shares, that “Vetter says that conditions like fungal infections, diabetic ulcers, septic embolism, and even leukemia can be mistaken for spider bites.” The trouble with that is that treatment may be delayed due to a misdiagnosis.

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If you witness a spider biting you or see a dead spider nearby after suffering a bite, of course, seek medical treatment. If you have a red bump that you can’t pinpoint, it’s best to see a medical professional right away rather than delay treatment.

Among the many people who weighed in with comments on the site’s coverage of brown recluse spider bites was one person who explained: “If they infiltrate the spider bite with steroid within 6 hours of being bitten it decreases how potent and amount of damage from the venom. I have been bitten several times and have learned that about it. It worked so well on my bites seems odd to me more doctors don’t do that for more people.”

Another commenter shared their personal experience, writing: “Bitten by a brown recluse spider and spent 6 days in the hospital with multiple intravenous antibiotics and under the care of an infectious control doctor. About 14 years ago and my leg still isn’t right.”