Spiders are everywhere. No matter what part of the world you live in, spiders are most likely present. All spiders carry venom, but only a few are extremely dangerous. It’s fairly easy to identify whether you’ve been bitten by a spider.
Identifying Spider Bites And Their Symptoms
Every spider bite is different. The appearance of one spider bite could be drastically different from another. If you think you’ve been bitten by a spider, look for one or more of the following symptoms.
- Raised bump or blisters. There may be one or more bumps clustered together.
- A red ring around the bump.
- Swelling around the bump.
- Double fang marks near the opening of the bite. It will look like the skin has been torn.
- Skin tissue that turns purple, brown, black, or blue. This is an indication of a brown recluse bite. The discolored area will be oozing as well. This bite will change over several days following the bite.
- Swelling and pain followed by nausea and muscle spasms This might indicate a black widow bite. The tissue around the bite will die and look rotten.
Serious Venom And Allergic Reaction To Spider Bites
If you get bitten by a spider such as a brown recluse or a black widow, seek medical attention immediately. Those are two spiders that can cause serious problems if treatment is not sought as soon as possible. There have been several instances of people losing toes or fingers from these types of spider bites.
Not all spiders contain a strong enough dose of venom to cause a problem, however some people are allergic to the slightest bit of it that enters the bloodstream. People who are allergic to spider venom experience swelling, pain, redness, and itching symptoms. These symptoms get worse over a 24 hour period. More severe allergic reactions include weakness, wheezing, shortness of breath, or hives.
If your spider bite is not serious, but you’re suffering from some of the symptoms above, home remedies are an option to treat the bite. Many doctors feel it is OK to treat a spider bite at home, but caution people to keep an eye on the situation and seek a doctor if it’s needed.
Spider Bite Home Remedies
There are several home treatments you can try to relieve a spider bite. One remedy may work for one person, but not another. Trying several of the following options is a good idea,
Ice and Cold Water
If you have swelling at the site of the spider bite, apply a cold compress or ice to the area. Leave the ice or compress on for about 20 minutes, then take it off. You can reapply it after another 20 minutes. Leaving ice on the skin for a prolonged amount of time can cause other problems.
Baking Soda
Ah yes, the miracle household item. Baking soda and water can help speed up the healing process if you’ve been bitten by a spider. Mix one part water to three parts baking soda to create a paste. Spread the paste over the spider bite and leave it there for 20 minutes. The bite should clear up in a few days depending on how severe it is.
Elevate the Area
If a spider has bitten you on the arm or leg, a good way to prevent swelling is to keep it elevated.
Hydrogen Peroxide
It’s important to wash the area of a spider bite as soon as you notice it. Wash the area with soap and water, and then rub some hydrogen peroxide over the bite. The hydrogen peroxide will disinfect the wound.
Dried Basil
If the spider bite you have is very itchy, you can crush up a pinch of basil and apply it to the bite until the consistency of the basil is that of fine sand. This will also help with decreasing any swelling of the area.
Aspirin
Another type of paste you can use that will neutralize the poison in your system is to use aspirin. Crush one aspirin tablet and mix it with water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the bite.
If you live in an area with spiders, it’s important to be cautious about them, especially if it’s an area where black widow or brown recluse spiders are present. If you do get bitten, and the bite is not serious, try any of the spider bite home remedies above to ease your symptoms.
