What to do if bitten by a spider

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The main thing is to understand whether it was poisonous.

Spiders that live in mid-latitudes in nature are usually harmless Spider bites / Mayo Clinic to humans. You need to be wary of poisonous species that live in warm regions or sometimes become pets.

How to determine which spider has bitten

Each of them has its own characteristics that will help the doctor understand what kind of help is needed. Here are the most dangerous spiders for humans.

Black Widow

It is a small arthropod. The size of the Spider bites / Mayo Clinic body together with the limbs is about 2.5 cm. The animal is black, there is a red hourglass-shaped spot on the abdomen. A poisonous relative of the widow, karakurt, lives in the south of Russia. It also has a black body, but instead there will be red spots of arbitrary shape.

After a bite, there are practically no marks on the skin, only sometimes - redness and swelling. But symptoms like First Aid: Spider Bites / KidsHealth appear:

• Painful muscle cramps for 8 hours
• abdominal pain and muscle tension in the abdominal wall;
• nausea and vomiting;
• breathing problems;
• Spider bites: First aid / Mayo Clinic tremor and sweating.

Tarantula

It is a large spider, up to 10 cm long. The whole is covered with coarse brown hairs.

If he bites a person, then Tarantula spider bite / U. S. National Library of Medicine signs of an allergic reaction:

• swelling at the site of the bite;
• labored breathing;
• itchy skin and rash;
• swelling of the eyelids, lips and throat;
• cardiopalmus;
• low blood pressure.

Yellow spider

Cheiracanthium punctorium (Villers, 1789) / Spiders of Europe is found in most of Europe, including Russia. The size of the female is 10–15 mm, and that of the male is 7, 5–12 mm. The spider has a yellow or beige belly with a black stripe. After the bite, severe burning pain appears. The most unpleasant sensations are in the first 5–20 minutes, and after a couple of hours everything usually goes away. Sometimes there is swelling and redness at the site of the wound.

Crosspiece

He lives throughout Europe. The length of the female is 6.5–20 mm, and that of the male is 5, 5–13 mm. It is a brown spider with a cross-shaped spot on its belly.

Sometimes the crosses bite. Swelling and redness may occur at the site of the wound. Other symptoms of Cross Orbweaver Spider / The Pennsylvania State University may appear and persist for up to several weeks:

• anxiety;
• nausea;
• headache;
• muscle spasms.

When to see a doctor

Medical assistance is needed if Spider bites: First aid / Mayo Clinic:

• You know that you have been bitten by a poisonous spider or suspect it.
• The wound is very painful, enlarged or swollen.
• Abdominal cramps appeared.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• In the area of the wound, redness or scarlet streaks.

If there is a suspicion of infection at the site of the bite, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. You may also be offered a tetanus shot. And with the bite of a black widow and the appearance of dangerous signs, an antidote will be introduced.

What to do if there are no dangerous symptoms

Then you can deal with the problem yourself. For this Spider bites / Mayo Clinic:

• Wash the bite with soap and water.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
• Apply a cool, damp cloth or ice to the wound. Insect bites and stings / U. S. National Library of Medicine for 10 minutes. Then remove and after 10 minutes repeat the procedure again.
• If the spider has bitten an arm or leg, lift the limb. This will prevent swelling.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

How to avoid a spider bite

They only bite for protection purposes. For example, if a person accidentally hooks on a spider, waves his arms in front of him, or gets into his territory. So it's best to take Spider bites / Mayo Clinic measures to avoid colliding with these creatures.

• Remember what dangerous spiders look like and where they live.
• When working or cleaning the basement, garage, or attic, wear long sleeves, tuck your pants into socks, and wear gloves and hats.
• Shake out garden gloves and shoes.
• Apply repellents to clothing.
• Install protective nets on windows and doors, seal cracks so that spiders do not enter the house.
• Use safe insecticides.
• Do not leave piles of stones or logs around the house where spiders can live.
• Do not place the bed close to the wall so that the spider cannot crawl on you at night.
• Vacuum up arthropods and cobwebs and then shake them out in an airtight bag.
• If you see a spider on your skin, don't press down on it, just shake it off.
• When cleaning the tarantula enclosure, use gloves, a surgical mask, and safety goggles.