2024-08-15 16:37:57
American Zachary Harakas’ life turned into a nightmare after he was bitten by a spider and left untreated. The wound allowed a type of bacteria known as “flesh-eating” bacteria to enter, causing necrotizing fasciitis in his leg.
On July 3, Zachary was working in the garden when he felt a “pinching” in his right leg. He looked down and saw a brown spider. He didn’t know if it was bitten, but he didn’t feel that much pain at the moment, so he forgot about it.
A few days later, however, the American developed a fever, and in addition to swelling, his legs began to turn green and rotten. On July 8, Zachary was taken to the hospital, where he had to undergo emergency surgery to remove most of the tissue and muscle from his legs and hips.
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Brown spiders are found in the Midwest and South-Central United States, according to the MSD Handbook. Some bites may not be painful initially, but in all cases, pain develops within 30 to 60 minutes and can be severe, affecting the entire limb. The area of the bite is usually red and may be itchy.
Brown spiders are one of the most venomous species
Dr. Andrew Benedict, chief of surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital where the young man was treated, explained that open wounds caused by spider bites allow flesh-eating bacteria to enter.
In the early stages, patients experience pain, redness, and flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, or tiredness. If left untreated, this condition can cause large areas of skin and muscle to darken due to necrosis, leading to sepsis and the need for amputation.
“Our initial thought was: Could this be a brown recluse spider bite? Sometimes spider bites can cause a local reaction that can actually cause the skin to die,” Benedict told Kansas City television station KSHB. “In Zachary’s case, it didn’t cause the skin to die, just the underlying tissue.”
Doctors told the family that if Zachary had not sought medical assistance that day, he might not have survived.
treatment in hospital
Zachary spent three days in the ICU and is now in the wound care unit. Doctors installed a drain in the area to drain the secretions, and the patient returned to the operating room every two days for cleaning and redressing.
The man will likely be hospitalized for several months and will undergo multiple plastic surgeries to repair the damaged leg. So his friends created a GoFundMe to help the family with medical expenses.
A friend wrote on the platform: “Zachary currently has no income and three children to support. He is very kind and sensitive, will help anyone in need, and is a devoted father. Any help is welcome.
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