Nearly every person in the United States will deal with a spider bite at some point in their lives. Spiders are extremely common and live in every one of the fifty states. Many people have had spider bites and were not aware they had been bitten. However, some spiders are venomous. When you are the victim of a bite from a poisonous spider, you will want to get it treated. Other features of spiders make their bites dangerous as well. Here is some important information about spider bites.
How Do You Know You’ve Been Bitten by a Spider?
Unless you’ve seen a spider, you may not know that you’ve been bitten by one. At first reaction, some spider bites can resemble mosquito bites. Other spider bites can look like bee stings. No matter what type of bite you have, you will want to keep a close eye on it to make sure that it doesn’t develop into something worse and/or get infected. If a spider bite does become infected, what are the next steps?
There are several categories of spider bites. Some spider bites will require emergency care. Other types of spider bites just need to be monitored to make sure they don’t turn into something worse.
If you find that you’ve been bitten by one of these spiders, seek care immediately.
Brown Recluse
Black Widow
Tarantula
Hobo Spider
Camel Spider
Black Widow spider bites and Brown Recluse spider bites can be life-threatening. It is of utmost importance to receive medical attention if you’ve been bitten by either of these spiders. Even if you haven’t been bitten by one of these extremely dangerous spiders, it is possible to have issues with bites from other spiders. Spiders crawl around in suspicious environments, and they are carriers of many types of germs.
Treating a Spider Bite
From a Non-Poisonous Spider
If your bite is from a non-poisonous spider, it should be relatively easy to treat at home. Taking an antihistamine like Benadryl or Zyrtec will help to reduce potential swelling. Then, you will want to make sure to keep the bite covered with a bandage and some antibiotic ointment or cream.
One issue to review is your tetanus shot status. Because spiders crawl around in dirty spaces, it is important to be current on your tetanus shots. As long as you’ve had a tetanus shot within the last ten years, you should be up to date.
Always keep the area clean to avoid the risk of infection at the injury site. If the bite begins to appear irritated, red, or inflamed, you may need to see a physician. They may prescribe an oral, broad-spectrum antibiotic.
From a Poisonous Spider
If you’ve been bitten by a poisonous spider, you will need to see a doctor. You will likely be prescribed some pain relievers, muscle relaxers, or an antibiotic. If your tetanus shot isn’t current, you may need to have a tetanus booster.
Identifying a Dangerous Spider
Unfortunately, most spiders are not easy to spot. Most commonly, a bite will appear, and the victim will not ever have seen the spider. However, if you do see the spider that bit you, you will need to learn some identifying features. Here are a few features to look for.
Black Widow A black widow is very shiny and black. They have very round bodies, very thin legs that are pointed like needles, and a red spot on their bellies.
Brown Recluse A brown recluse is a relatively small spider. It has a violin-shaped spot on its back, but the mark can be unclear. This variety of spiders is very commonly found southeastern United States and lives up to its name, as it is very reclusive. Brown recluses usually hide in boxes, papers, or crevices.
Symptoms of a Dangerous Spider Bite
When you’ve been bitten by any kind of spider, you will want to keep an eye on your symptoms. Here are some symptoms to watch out for, after a spider bite.
Inflamed skin
Nausea or vomiting
Sweating
Pain around the bite
Stomach pain or cramping
Streaks on the skin around the bite
If any of these symptoms are present, it is important to seek medical care right away.
Conclusion
Whether you’ve seen the spider that bit you, you’re keeping track of a mysterious bite, or you are unsure of what kind of bite you have, medical care is important. Treating at home can work, but you will want to make sure you are watching the bite closely if you do decide to treat the bite at home. When in doubt, seek medical attention.
Village Emergency Centers
If you need assistance with a spider bite or any other skin infection, consult the professionals at Village Emergency Centers. We offer the most comprehensive care at one of Texas’s most prestigious medical centers. For care, we have skilled and compassionate medical professionals who can answer any questions you have about sore throats, as well as answer questions you may have about spider bites, other types of bites, or the effects of poisonous spider bites on the skin. Whatever the need, no matter the hour, we will be there to provide medical services and help you with no wait times, friendly staff, and a very experienced medical team. We are open 24 hours a day and ready to assist you with your emergency needs.
