spider bite and hospital emergency

[jazz'smum]

Jacinta was bitten by a spider on Saturday.
We were at a school fete and i had left them to get a sausage sizzle when i came back and she was upset and saying that a "small brown spider" had bitten her. She had a red mark so something definatly had a go at her.

I got her home and she complained of headache and sore neck, gave her panadol and she fell asleep.
She woke up upset with a fever, confused and feeling nauseas, so i took her to emergency.
The triage nurse said it wouldnt be from the spider bite and it would be a virus, so told us to wait to see a Doctor.
Well that was at 6.30pm and after numerous so called "urgent cases" went before her and someone with muscular dystrophy, who was in pain after falling and fracturing his knee.
Well the "urgent cases" all walked out looking 100% after seeing Dr.
Jacinta finally saw dr at 11.45pm!
Anyway the Dr Said it was the spider bite causing symptoms and because she had been waiting so long and hadnt gotten any worse just panadol and antihistamine would do.
I am taking her to GP today as her leg is sore, i am hoping it isnt the start of cellulitis.

I was disgusted at what their so called priorities where.
I felt like crying for the man with muscular distrophy.

Being that Jacinta has epilepsy and had been bitten by a spider and had a high fever, am i being unreasonable to say that she should have seen a Dr sooner?

[walsh]

Did you mention at the hospital that she had epilepsy? They usually list epilepsy problems as urgent. Whenever I go to the emergency room after a seizure, I go straight to the front of the queue. But I could definitely see some things as being more serious than a spider bite, especially if the symptoms were just fever and nausea.

[brain]

I would have considered that Hospital
was slightly out of line putting down a child over
1 patient? Especially over such a prolonged period
of time that had lapsed - I would have filed a formal
complaint to the Hospital - but I wonder, if the Hospital
itself was a small one or a large one? And I wonder where
was everyone?

==================


I would keep an eye on the area of the spider bite:
If it develops into an "open sore", with drainage and
pus - go back to the ER and bring those discharge
papers with you on the PRONTO - cover area with
gauze and tape very lightly (do not press down on
it). Do not let the child pick on it either. And if the
child is very young, it does help to wrap a towel
around it and tape it to keep their hands off of it.
You do not want the infected area to spread.

This type of bite will actually grow and get bigger
and will need further treatment!

If you have a First Aid Book at home / or you can
go online and look it up on Brown Recluse Bite Wounds
Images - that will give you an idea of what a Brown
Poisonous Spider bite will appear. A non-poisonous
spider won't do that. (You can do the same research
on Black Widow Bites as well.) A Research Online can
provide you information on how to treat spider bites,
poisonous and non-poisonous. Just make sure it's
certified from the Poison Control Center (It will be
Marked on the page) or American Red Cross. Some
Hospitals have such information enclosed in their
resources - which is fine and acceptable.

But if it's just redness and soreness and just stiffness,
most likely an allergic reaction possibility.

EITHER WAY - I would notify the child's Pediatrician
or Primary Care AND the child's Neurologist or
Epileptologist about this when their office opens
if they had not been informed of this; they will
determine if the child has insect bite/sting allergy
and will determine what type of medication would
be necessary to have in handy to treat the child
in events such as this.

[skillefer]

Oh wow.....Considering her medical history, I think you're perfectly justified in being upset.

[jazz'smum]

Thanks for that info Sharon ,
The white tail spider is a problem around here and other little non venomous garden/house spiders.
The Redback and funnel web spider are our most dangerous, we have anti-venoms for them. Their bites make you very sick almost instantly and can be fatal if not treated urgently.

I am watching her bite area like a hawke! and will also let her nuerologist know.
Typical that these things happen when you cant contact who you need.

Gosford Hospital, it is a large main hospital for this area.
There is also Wyong Hospital, im between both so either is much for muchness as far as travel goes.
They transport people via rescue helicopter to sydney to specialists if needed etc.
Always complaints very under staffed and not enough beds.

Yes told them she had epilepsy.
It was an absolute joke! and by the time i left i nearly had a nervous breakdown!
People where coming in by ambulance (not serious) were put on chairs to wait for doctors (all adults so waiting on different drs to Jacinta.)
Most had mainly bone injuries.. and one lady(drunk?) with a head injury had me in a panic! she put herself in a taxi and went home.
They did nothing to check on anyone whilst they waited.
The mother of the disabled son called out to reception "my son is in more pain" they did nothing!
The people that "jumped the list" in my opinion, must be great actors to walk out looking as healthy as they did...either that or the triage got patients priorities very wrong.

There were a lot of ambulances coming in and the serious and very sick patients were taken straight in.. so was very busy,so understandable that there was along wait.
Im just annoyed and find their triage priority protocol dangerous.

Is there a time period (protocol) that they monitor people with epilepsy for? it would be good to know if anything ever happens again.

Thanks
Cheryl

[sixpack]

when I take my kids to the er, we often are there 3-4hrs. Most of that time is spent waiting. It's not so fun for sure. The one time that was a quick wait was when Lindsay had a seizure on the stairs and cut her head open. It was 7am, the er was fairly quiet. She had her triage, CTscan, and staples and was home in an hour. Again there were few people there at the time anyway.

I understand your frustration though. Man, Australia has some pretty scary bugs!!!! You definitely can't be too careful there. The southern US has some moderately scary creatures that you have to watch for. Since our move to Western NY, I just look out for ticks. Seems much easier. ha

[skillefer]

I don't like spiders. I'm allergic. So I guess that means no botox for me.

[jazz'smum]

Sounds scary Skillefer, The Dr mentioned that they use a anti-venom for redback bites that contains something(he did say what) from a horse, and it can cause anatheltic shock.
With the funnel webs they use there venom with whatever else.
Yes is about the same wait here sixpack.
Weather up and down here, hot one day cold the next then rain and dry so brings them out.