Spider bite-Symptoms, Treatment, Pictures

Spider bite pertains to injury that results from the bite of spiders or other animals closely related to arachnids. Spiders are eight legged arachnids that bite as their way of self defense. But not all bites are harmful. In fact most spiders are completely harmless and mostly their bites go unnoticed.

Types of Spider bite

Venomous Spiders

There are at least 38,000 different spider species found and they are normally active hunters and they rely much on their bites to keep their prey paralyzed before consuming them. Almost all spiders have venoms but some spiders are too small which makes their venom very weak against humans.

In the United States, only a few spider species are considered venomous, the most potent of which are the Black Widow spiders and the Brown Recluse spiders.

Black Widow Spider Bite-Pictures

There are many types of widow spiders and all their bites contain poison with varying degrees of toxicity. The Female black widow has the most lethal spider bite of all. It is most famous for its shiny black appearance and the red hourglass marking on its belly. On the other hand, the adult male black widows are completely harmless and they are about half the size of the female black widow.

Their bite symptoms include:

• Faint red marks

• Swelling

• Intense pain

• Fever

• Chills

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea and vomiting

Brown Recluse Spider Bite-Pictures

Brown recluse spider is also known as violin spider because of its violin shaped marking found at the back. These spiders are not naturally aggressive and are only provoked when disturbed or crushed. Human reaction against their bites may depend on the amount of venom injected but the bite usually causes slight injury which take time to heal and may lead to serious tissue damage.

After the initial spider bite, the victim experiences mild stinging, and after a few hours, the victim will feel severe pain at the bite site. The site will also be filled with fluid blister and will eventually slough off thus leaving a deep, large ulcer. Other bite symptoms include:

• Itching

• Nausea and vomiting

• Fever

• Chills

• Muscle pain

• Red and fang marks

• Shock

What to do if You Have Been Bitten by Spiders

If bitten by spiders, it is important to try to identify the type of spider that bit you. If possible, catch the spider and show it to the doctors; but if not just try to remember its form and color.

Clean the site of the bite with soap and water and apply cold compress. For relief of minor symptoms, the victim may take anti-histamines and aspirin. If the spider bite is caused by spiders mentioned above, try to slow down the spread of venom by tying a bandage above the spider bite and elevate it and seek medical help right away.

Spider Bite Prevention

To avoid spider bite, one must control the spider infestation within areas of human habitation. Spiders usually live in dark areas like under the stairs or beds and places with roaches and bugs. When you feel your home is infested with dangerous spiders, one must be careful in cleaning dark places. Wear gloves and shake your clothes and shoes before wearing them.

Severe spider bites rarely happen, but they most often occur on young kids and the elderly. When you feel like the bite is not getting better, stop treating it on your own and ask the doctor’s help immediately.