Spider bite

Two days before we left Cape Town I had a spider bite. I didn't know it was a spider bite a the time and thought that it was just another mosquito bite. It was on my back and came up in a red lump similar to a mozzy bite. However, it continued to grow and the redness spread to an area the size of a mobile phone. It became very itchy and started to sting so when we travelled I was quite uncomfortable having to sit for two long-haul flights to Miami.

When we arrrived in Miami, Andy started to search on the web to try to find out what it might be. We think it was a yellow-sac spider, which are common in South Africa. They are very small, so it would be very easy to be bitten by one and not notice.

I have treated it with antibiotic cream and now almost three weeks later it no longer hurts and the redness is starting to go. Some websites said that it can take as long as six weeks to go and will probably leave a small scar. I'm just glad it wasn't on my nose!

I thought it was ironic that I had travelled to Zambia and Mozambique, using mosquito nets, taking anti-malarial tablets, applying insect repellent and using anti-bacterial handwashes, only to be bitten back in Cape Town.

On balance I think I would rather lhave arge spiders, like the one I posted a photo of, at the start of this blog (Feb 5th). At least you can see them!