When spiders attack
Although most spider bites are harmless, some can be toxic and do serious damage. Culprits — from common house spiders to venomous black widows and brown recluses — hide out at lake houses, inside bags of grapes, behind gym locker doors or among piles of hoarded newspapers. If you think you have a spider bite, here’s what to do.
Spider vs. mosquito
If you didn’t see the insect that bit you, how can you tell what it was? If the bite is itchy rather than painful, it’s more likely a mosquito bite than a spider bite, says Dr. Amy Kassouf, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic. “Spider bites can often itch or hurt,” Kassouf says. “Spider bites tend to swell a little bit more over a longer period of time.” Spider bites also tend to have a central puncture area where the fangs were inserted. Bites from more venomous spiders tend to hurt and swell more, she says.
Lurking
In the Mother Goose nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet found a spider sitting beside her tuffet. Indoors, you’re more likely to find one under eaves, in your attic or in dusty, neglected areas. Outdoors, anything by the water attracts spiders. “Lake houses tend to have lots of spiders,” Kassouf says. Spiders like spinning webs in areas with plenty of bugs, she adds, so watch out for those nooks and crannies.
Applying first aid
If a spider (or other insect) bites you leaving minor signs, like a small bump or red spot, wash the site with soap and water. A cool compress can ease swelling, and an over-the-counter pain medicine such as Advil, Aleve or Tylenol can help quell discomfort. Most bites just go away on their own. Note: Young children with suspected spider bites without urgent symptoms should be seen by a doctor if redness and pain persist beyond a day, or the skin blisters, shows damage or begins to turn purple.
Treating itching
Topical steroid creams can relieve persistent itching and discomfort. If those aren’t enough, oral antihistamines or prescription steroid pills are options. For itchy bites, Allegra, Zyrtec or Claritin are less sedating than Benadryl, advises Dr. Andrew Murphy, an asthma and immunology specialist at Asthma, Allergy & Sinus Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He also discourages the use of topical Benadryl or other antihistamine creams, which can make rashes worse. Avoid scratching as well: Breaking the skin by scratching could open the door to staph and other infections. That’s when you might need a topical antibiotic.
Airway swelling
With bites on the head or neck, the biggest initial concern is swelling, Kassouf says. Significant swelling from an allergic or inflammatory reaction could potentially compromise the airway or other functions of vital facial structures, she explains. “Since some spider bites like the brown recluse can cause necrosis [tissue death], this is much more serious and hard to treat surgically on the face, head and neck,” she says.
Venomous creatures
Bites from brown recluse and black widow spiders are poisonous. If you suspect you’ve been bitten by a venomous spider, wash the bite and elevate the area to keep venom from spreading. Call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 for advice. You may be told to seek immediate emergency care. Treatment can include anti-venom for black widow spider bites, pain medicine, muscle relaxants, steroids, antibiotics and a tetanus booster shot, depending on your symptoms.
Black widows: beware
With their shiny bodies, long legs and red hourglass markings, black widow spiders are easy to identify. “Their bites are very, very painful,” Murphy says. At first, skin around a bite swells at the site, and you may notice one or two fang marks along with burning, swelling and redness. Later, pain spreads, eventually reaching your back and belly. You could experience severe cramping or rigidity in your abdominal muscles. Other symptoms can include heavy sweating, nausea, tremors, difficulty breathing, fever, restlessness and a rise in blood pressure. Pain usually lasts up to 12 hours, with symptoms possibly persisting for several days.
Brown recluses: avoid
Brown recluse spiders have violin patterns on their backs and inflict rare but dangerous bites. Primarily seen in the Southeast and Midwest, they tend to bite when threatened and next to someone’s skin. At first, some bites may be painless or burn mildly. A small blister may form. Next, severe pain and itching can develop, along with nausea and vomiting, fever and muscle pains. Brown recluse venom is toxic and destructive. Enzymes within attack nearby cells and destroy skin, fat and blood vessels around the bite, leading to tissue death or necrosis. With this, Kassouf says, the bite’s center becomes purple or black, and resembles a scab or deep bruise.
Allergic reaction: emergency
Rarely, a poisonous spider bite can cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. “If you start getting hives, lip swelling, tongue swelling, short of breath, wheezing, light-headed, dizzy — obviously, that’s a bad thing,” Murphy says. Call 911 for this medical emergency.
Warding off creepy crawlers
You can reduce your spider-bite risk. Shake gloves, boots, shoes, clothing and blankets out before use, especially if they’ve been in storage, the National Capital Poison Center recommends. Make noise or vibrations before entering basements, attics, unused closets and storage areas. Cut clutter to eliminate nooks and crannies. Consider glue traps for your home, and contact a professional pest control operator if you suspect an infestation.
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10 Ways to Detect and Treat Spider Bites originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 04/04/17: This article was originally published on July 8, 2016.
