A woman confessed she turned to Chat GPT for medical advice after suffering a bite, with doctors confirming it was fortunate she sought hospital treatment.
Holli, who shares content on TikTok as @hair.queen.holli, revealed she had been bitten by a spider “a little over a week ago” and the wound was becoming “progressively worse”. The Wolfforth, Texas resident described how she had been “vomiting for the past few days” and hadn’t “been able to keep down water”, prompting her to consider getting medical help.
However, when she awoke the following morning to find her “arm was numb,” she recognised something was seriously wrong.
“So I asked Chat GPT what I should do, like if I should go to the emergency room, and he said yes, your symptoms are a ton of red flags, you need to go immediately,” Holli revealed.
Holli chose to visit A&E and described her circumstances, admitting she was uncertain whether she belonged there, explaining that Chat GPT had recommended she attend.
“They looked at it and said, ‘Yeah, you should be here’. So now here I am,” Holli disclosed.
She described the bite as “red, hot, and numb” declaring it was “not good”.
The doctor informed her that the “skin tissue was dying” or was “already dead,” though she couldn’t recall precisely.
“So it’s not good, and it is an emergency,” Holli emphasised.
She admitted feeling “embarrassed” about being there, though she remained “thankful” that Chat GPT had recommended she seek medical attention. In the comments section, individuals cautioned the woman that she might have been bitten by a brown recluse spider.
Brown recluse spiders are indigenous to the central and southern regions of the United States. They are recognised by their violin-shaped marking on their back, although not all spiders exhibit this clearly visible marking.
These spiders prefer to inhabit dark, undisturbed areas such as basements, closets, or woodpiles.
A bite from a brown recluse spider can be serious, but not all bites lead to severe symptoms.
Initially, the bite is often painless, but within several hours, it may become red, swollen, and tender. In some instances, the bite can evolve into a blister and then an open sore or ulcer, which could take weeks to heal.
Some people experience mild symptoms, while others may develop more severe reactions, including fever, chills, body aches, and in rare cases, a severe skin lesion or systemic illness.
If you suspect you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse, especially if you notice worsening pain, spreading redness, or signs of infection, immediate medical attention is advised.