MRSA lesions can be confused with which of the following?

• A. Spider bites
• B. Eczema
• C. Psoriasis
• D. Urticaria

Answer: (A)

MRSA skin infections often present with a red, painful, swollen area that may warm to touch and drain purulent material. That bite-like appearance—redness, swelling, possible central drainage—is why MRSA lesions can be mistaken for spider bites. Helpful context: spider bites typically produce a localized, tender lesion, sometimes with redness, but the key progression in MRSA is rapid growth, warmth, and pus, which signals an infectious process rather than a simple bite.

Eczema shows dry, itchy patches without pus or rapid enlargement; psoriasis appears as well-demarcated, scaly plaques rather than a evolving, draining wound; urticaria presents as transient wheals that come and go, usually itchy and not tender or draining. So the bite-like presentation most closely fits MRSA, whereas the others lack the combination of infection signs such as purulence and rapid progression. If a lesion is enlarging, painful, or draining, it warrants evaluation for MRSA rather than attributing it to a spider bite.