Broadcaster and journalist Anna Whitehouse, known as Mother Pukka, was hospitalised earlier this year after a false widow spider bite became infected and developed into sepsis. Her experience challenges the common belief that UK spider bites are harmless, a myth that persists among four in 10 Brits, according to new research by Asda Pharmacy.
From a Simple Bite to Sepsis
Anna initially visited A&E but was sent home with a course of penicillin. Over the following days, her condition deteriorated, requiring hospital admission, IV antibiotics, and wound treatment. She shared her story to urge others not to ignore bites that worsen.
"If I could go back, I'd tell myself to trust my instincts sooner. I waited 72 hours hoping it would just get better on its own. By the time I went to A&E, I was sent home with penicillin, but it had already escalated further than that could fix," Anna said.
The Danger of Ignoring Symptoms
Her wound became increasingly bloodied and ulcerated, leaving her seriously ill and in intense pain. The research found that 23% of Brits would not recognise signs of an infected bite, and 35% have left a bite untreated to avoid "making a fuss."
Common Bug Bite Myths
Asda Pharmacy's study identified the top 10 bug bite myths in the UK. These include 34% believing antihistamine cream can treat an infected bite, 30% thinking most bites heal without treatment, and 11% believing UK spiders are never dangerous enough to need treatment. Other myths include using toothpaste, vinegar, tea tree oil, or bicarbonate of soda.
Faisal Tuddy, head of pharmacy at Asda, said: "Every summer we see the same myths doing the rounds, and the same painful mistakes. Toothpaste won't soothe a sting, and trying to suck out venom can do more harm than good."
Pharmacy First: A Simple Guide
With 69% of GPs regularly seeing patients with bites that could have been treated at a pharmacy, Asda Pharmacy launched the BITE acronym to guide treatment:
- B – Be prepared: Apply insect repellent before heading to known hotspots.
- I – Itching spreads infection: Resist the urge to scratch.
- T – Treat it early: Asda Pharmacy can provide expert advice and prescriptions including antibiotics.
- E – Extreme reactions? Head straight to A&E.
Two in five Brits (40%) are unaware that pharmacists can assess and treat infected bites, including prescribing antibiotics. Tuddy added: "You can walk into any Asda Pharmacy, no appointment needed, and we'll assess it, treat it, and prescribe antibiotics on the spot if needed."
Anna's Warning
Anna concluded: "If something doesn't feel right, don't wait it out. Get expert advice early because a bite that seems minor can become serious much more quickly than you'd think. That's exactly why what Asda Pharmacy is doing matters - giving people a quick and easy way to get bites checked properly before they become anything like as serious as mine did."
