Spider Bites : Identify Symptoms, Spider Types & Treatment

Generally, the bites of the spider are harmless on humans. Sometimes the bite which looks like a spider bite turns out to be a bite from another bug. However, there are some spiders which have fans that are poisonous and long enough to penetrate the skin of the humans. The bite from the venomous spiders can have severe ill effects on the human. It must be noted that spiders are not blood-sucking creatures and the only reason why a spider can bite a human if they feel either trapped or surprised. There are a lot of species of spider all around the world.

A bite of the spider looks similar to that of a bug bite. There are not many distinct features associated with the bite of the spider. Some of the common features of the spider bite may be

1. A person feels tingling sensation or numbness around the bite of the spider.
2. There might be a feeling of burning and itching.
3. The skin around the bite gets swelled up.

The signs and symptoms associated with the bite of the spider depend upon the species of the spider. The symptoms associated with some of the poisonous spiders are given below Black recluse and black widow symptoms are almost similar.

• Joint stiffness
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Excessive sweating
• Stomach pain
• Muscles spasm
• Difficulty in breathing
• Ulcerated wound
• Excruciating pain around the wound.

The signs and symptoms associated with tarantula bite are

• Swelling at the bite site
• Rash on the skin
• Increased heart rate
• Puffiness in eyelids
• Itching
• The reduced flow of blood to major organs
• Reduced blood pressure.

The symptoms associated with false black widow bite are

• Severe swelling
• Severe burning sensation
• Chest pain
• Numbness around the bite site

The symptoms related to hobo spider bite

• Exhaustion
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Fever
• Hallucinations
• Headache
• Swelling
• Nausea

The symptoms experienced in wolf spider bite are similar to that of any other minor insect. However, in case of an allergic reaction to the bite, the following symptoms may appear

• Blisters
• Rash
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itching
• Swelling

The symptoms exhibited in camel spider bite

• Blood loss
• Severe pain
• Tenderness and inflammation

Brown reclus

The brown recluse spiders are aggressive by nature. These spiders usually do not bite that easily however, if they get trapped against the human skin then they may bite. The brown recluse spiders usually are not seen in the day. They only come out in the night for their hunting expedition. In the majority of the cases, a person does not feel anything when the brown recluse spider bites. Although, in some of the rare cases if a person does feel the bite then he/she may only experience a stinging feeling. Symptoms due to the venom of the spider only appear after 14 to 36 hours. The area of the skin where the spider bites might become red. A white blister in miniature size may also develop the bite site.

Black widow

The black widow spider only bites out of self-defense. There are few spider experts who are of the belief that these spiders are of shy nature and the chances of a black spider biting a human are considerably low. Every spider has fangs which are hollow and play a vital role in injecting venom. Majority of the spiders do not have strong and long fangs. However, the fangs of the black widow are different. When a black widow spider bites a person may feel some pain. Two puncture marks of the red color appear at the site of the bite. There may be a few people who might not realize that they have been bitten by a spider until the symptoms associated with the bite start appearing. In the case of a black widow bite the symptoms appear after approximately 40 minutes.

Tarantula

When a person gets bitten by a tarantula he/she may feel like being stung by a bee. The site of the tarantula spider bite gets very painful. The appearance of the bite is also similar to that of being stung by a bee. The venom of the tarantula spiders is not very strong. Thus it is highly unusual for a person who has been bitten by this spider to exhibit severe reactions.

False black widow

A person cannot feel the bite of the false black widow spider. However, the symptoms of the bite start appearing within a short span of time. A person would start feeling pain and burning sensation. The site of the bite would get swelled up and form a weal. Two small puncture marks would be observed at the site of the bite. Besides the abnormal redness, a bluish tine occurs at the site of the bite. If a false black widow spider bites on the hand then the symptoms would take approximately 3 to 4 hours to appear. The effects of the bite of a false black widow are not long lasting.

Hobo spider

Rarely does a bite from the hobo spider has symptoms which can be dangerous for a human. Usually, the bite from the hobo spider is getting unnoticed and is painless. However, it may cause a little burning and pricking sensation. After a few minutes of the bite the site may be getting inflamed, swelled up, and start painting. Initially, the bite would like being bitten by a mosquito. Within a day a fluid-filled blister may be formed at the site of the bite. This blister would eventually get ruptured by itself and the fluid filled in the blister will get drained.

Wolf spider

The bites from the wolf spider are not dangerous. In most of the cases, the bite has an uncanny resemblance to that of an insect bite so unless a person sees a wolf spider biting him/her the person may not be able to identify what has bitten him/her. A sore red mark may develop at the site of the bite.

Camel spider

The bite of the camel spider is very painful. However, the arm or the leg which gets bitten by the camel spider does not rot. It is just a myth. It is the pincers of this spider which cause severe pain when a person gets bitten. The bite from the camel spider usually shocks the tissues surrounding the bite which leads to inflammation and reddening of the skin at the bite site. Based on the intensity of the bite slight bleeding may occur at the site of the bite.

For the majority of the people who get bitten by a spider be it a black widow or a brown recluse the treatment given below is sufficient

• The site of the bite must be washed with water and soap.
• An antibiotic ointment must be applied if a person feels the spider which has bitten is poisonous.
• The pain and swelling can be reduced by the application of cold compress to the bite.
• If a person gets bitten in his/her legs or the arm then it must be elevated.
• Any over the counter pain killers like as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be taken.
• An oral antihistamine may also be prescribed by the doctor.
• If the bite gets infected the doctor may recommend antibiotics either orally or intravenously.

If any severe allergic reactions develop the person must be admitted to the hospital for emergency medical treatment. In some rare cases, anti-venom injection may be given.

If a patient starts experiencing the symptoms of anaphylactic shock then emergency medical treatment is required to be given as these symptoms might prove to be fatal if not treated quickly. If a person feels that he/she has been bitten by the spider that is venomous then a doctor must be consulted immediately if the any of the following symptoms are experienced

• Problems associated with breathing
• Severe pain
• Abdominal cramping

A person who gets bitten by any spider must consult the doctor immediately to ensure a proper diagnosis and treatment for the bite related side effects.

When a person suffers from an allergic reaction from the spider bite he/she may experience the following symptoms

• Loss of consciousness
• Abdominal pain
• Hives or rashes
• Itching
• Redness of the skin
• Swelling
• Breathing difficulty
• The facial features like eye, tongue, throat or lips my gets swelled up.

The following things can be done to prevent oneself from getting bitten by a spider

• While handling the stored boxes, cleaning the shed or garage, and basements a person should wear a full-sleeves shirt, pant, gloves, socks, and boots.
• Making use of insect repellents on the clothes also help.
• Tight fitting screens on the doors and the windows must be applied so that a spider cannot come in.
• The beds should not be pushed against the wall.
• Items should not be stored under the bed
• The spider webs and spiders must be vacuumed and disposed off.
• A person must learn to identify the spiders which are dangerous.

Generally, a spider does not bite a human but if provoked it can bite. Most of the spider bites are not dangerous however; bites from brown reclus or black widow may be dangerous. There are various measures which can be taken to prevent getting bitten by a spider. If a person feels he/she has been bitten by a venomous spider then a doctor must be consulted immediately.