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Spider bite: symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Many of the spiders only need a dark place with little movement to protect themselves, so it is possible that you will find it in your home. Although it is not documented with certainty how many cases of spider bites occur per year worldwide, these become more frequent in hot seasons and mostly occur when the animal is threatened, since few spiders are aggressive by nature.

If you do come across a spider, it is not uncommon for you to feel scared because you think it is poisonous, as many people consider it. For that reason, if it does bite you, it is normal for you to worry, although in most cases it is not a serious matter. To help you clarify your doubts about this injury, at FastlyHealwe inform you about spider bites: symptoms and treatment .

Spider bite symptoms

It is important that you know that not all spiders are poisonous , many of them only bite as a defense and generally you will feel a slight bite or you may not even feel it, which will not bring consequences beyond discomfort in the area of ​​the bite. unless you are allergic. The symptoms for no dangerous spider bite that can occur:

  • Two points that represent the bite of the spider.
  • Redness, the place where it bit you begins to turn reddish in color, sometimes faint or very intense.
  • Your skin becomes inflamed in the area of ​​the spider bite.
  • There is pain and burning around the wound.
  • A blister that contains fluid develops in the spider bite.

On the other hand, the symptoms of a poisonous spider bite that you might observe, in addition to those mentioned above, are the following:

  • Severe pain and stiffness in the bite area.
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Have nausea and vomit.
  • Developing a fever or chills.
  • Having muscle spasms, often facial ones.
  • There is inflammation around the eyes.
  • Present several rashes or lesions on the skin.
  • Around the bite it takes on a red and blue color.
  • The blister becomes a gradually enlarging wound, damaging the tissue.
  • Blood pressure rises.

Treatment to relieve spider bites

If you have suffered from a spider bite, try to identify what type of spider it is , if possible capture it or save the dead organism and take it to the doctor to determine if it is dangerous or not and what treatment is the best one for you. condition. If, on the other hand, you have not been able to locate the specimen or see it, the doctor will examine the marks that remain on your skin.

Once you have located the place where the spider bit you, you should wash it with plenty of soap and water , in order to keep it clean and prevent the growth of bacteria that could cause an infection. Later, to reduce inflammation and relieve the affected area, you can directly apply cold compresses or ice inside a bag and if the bite was on a limb, raise it. Also, if the spider bite is not serious but you feel discomfort, the doctor may prescribe the consumption of anti-inflammatories and analgesics to counteract the symptoms that you may present, monitoring them for the next 24 hours in case they become intensified, although it does not usually happen and in a few days they disappear.

On the other hand, if the cause is a dangerous spider , you should go immediately to the doctor to administer the appropriate antivenom serum or to intervene surgically if warranted. Mostly it is necessary that you stay hospitalized to monitor the effect of the poison in your body, based on this will be the subsequent treatment indicated by the specialist.

In case you are away from a medical center, you can prevent the poison from spreading rapidly through your body by placing a tight bandage, but without cutting off circulation, over the site of the spider bite if it is on any limb, but if It was in another part of your body, it will help to apply a cold compress or cloth on and around the bite until a doctor assists you . While this method works with most dangerous spiders, in the case of the Brazilian wandering spider or banana spider that lives in South America, you should wash the area with warm water and the compresses should be warm.

When to see the doctor

Although it is recommended that you go to your doctor before any spider bite, it is essential that you visit the specialist if you notice that the symptoms do not decrease and that on the contrary, they are increasing even with the use of drugs.

If you are having an allergic reaction to the spider bite, that is, you have symptoms such as difficulty breathing, you feel that something is obstructing your throat and prevents you from swallowing, you are sweating excessively and you feel weak, you should see the specialist immediately .

Likewise, it is possible that you acquire an infection through a spider bite , either because you did not have adequate care or your health is not favorable to combat infectious agents, in any case you should consult a doctor to counteract other complications.

Recommendations to avoid spider bites

  • If you clean your house frequently will help the spiders will not find an ideal place to live. You should also shake clothes and shoes before using them, especially if they were stored for a long time or on the floor.
  • If possible, you may want to thermally insulate your home and close off any ideal spider accesses when it’s getting dark. You can also apply repellent several hours before you go to sleep.
  • If you are camping outdoors, are in dark places or go anywhere where you are likely to find spiders, it is recommended that you wear appropriate clothing such as pants, closed shoes and long-sleeved shirts. In addition to gloves if you are going to walk trails or come into direct contact with the litter or vegetation.
  • On the other hand, if you travel to another country it is important that you first inform yourself about poisonous animals, including spiders, which could be located in the area you are going to visit and thus take the necessary precautions. You should be careful with those that have a greater distribution, such as the violinist, corner or brown spider and the black widow spider, while others you can only find them in certain regions or continents.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Spider bite: symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category 

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