The Dangers of Spider Bites

Yes it is quite true when experts would say there is less to fear in spider bites than the spider itself. There are indeed very few species of spiders (countable numbers) that can induce very potent venom toxins which could seriously harm human health and most of them are even far from the human civilizations. However, some of them do really live among us, like the black widow spider which happens to be very common in the North American Continent. They are the ones that people should still be on the lookout for as you may never know when and where they could attack and cause you the medical hassles you are quite forgiving of a possibility of.

Although, you have to understand that unlike our sinister insect friends, mosquitoes, spiders don't seek out human beings just so they could bite them. Generally, spiders will never ever bite any human beings unless it feels threatened, intimidated or cornered. In order, they don't bite unless they are somehow externally, deliberately or unintentionally disturbed. Also most spider fangs are so small that they are unable to penetrate an adult person's skin. Also, spiders may also bite humans if they are accidentally or deliberately disturbed in their webs. Web weaving spiders are often tricked into the impression that they have caught something in their webs and therefore, they bite.

In truth, the severity of a spider bite may depend on certain different factors such as the kind of spider that bit the person, the dosage of venom injected in a bite, and the age and health condition of the person that has been bit. More than half the time, spider bites don't cause any reaction at all, but there are certain individuals with skin allergies that tend to develop severe dermal reactions after a bite. The harshest conditions that a normal healthy person could get from a common spider bite would range from minimal itching in the skin, stiffness, redness, minor inflammation, and pain which at worst would be par to a bee sting. Commonly, symptoms from a spider bite could only last from a few minutes to few hours depending on the size of the spider fangs and the kind of venom injected upon a bite. However, reactions to every bite may differ from person to person. If the symptoms would evolve into much harsher conditions of reactions, it would be wise to call a physician right away or send the person bitten to a hospital to have the reactions checked and treated as soon as possible.

There are times as well the spider bites are undetectable and symptoms would only then develop after a few minutes to hours after the bite. In some cases, there are species of arthropods that are often mistaken as spiders when they bite. Arthropods like ticks, bees, fleas, bedbugs, wasps, and mosquitoes.

First Aid Treatments

For first aid treatments on spider bites, you may commence with washing the bitten area first with clean water and then applying an antiseptic to prevent any possible infections. Then you can use ice or ice cold water to reduce the inflammation or swelling of the bitten spot. Often, the bites from arthropods, not only limited to spiders, could result to extreme itchiness. Instead of scratching the bitten area, one should apply itch relieving medications or treatments on it. Scratching the bitten area may potentially lead to dermal lacerations which could become infected and worsen the situation. However, if you find out early one that a black widow or any member of the venomous spider species have bitten you, or you suddenly have internal sensations as reactions to the bite, it would be wise to have yourself check with a physician or submit yourself of clinical confinement.