What to do if bitten by a spider

Spiders that live in mid-latitudes in nature are usually harmlessSpider bites / Mayo Clinic for a person. 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 sizeSpider bites / Mayo Clinic body with limbs - 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. He has the same color.

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

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

Brown recluse spider

He is goldenSpider bites / Mayo Clinic or dark brown. The size of the abdomen is 6–19 mm, and the legs are very long. If you look closely, you will notice that this spider has six eyes: a pair in front and on each side of the head, instead of the traditional arrangement for its relatives, four eyes in two rows. Symptoms after a hermit bite:First Aid: Spider Bites / KidsHealth :

• around the wound - swelling and redness, sometimes cyanosisSpider bites: First aid / Mayo Clinic;
• pain at the site of the bite that lasts 2-8 hours;
• joint stiffness or soreness;
• nausea and vomiting;
• skin rash;
• fever, chills and aches;
• feeling tired.

Tarantula

It is a large spider, up to 10 cm long. All coveredTarantula spider bite / U.S. National Library of Medicine coarse brown hairs. If the tarantula is in danger, it rubs the body with its hind legs and throws these hairs in the direction of the threat. There are jagged edges at the ends that cling to the skin. Swollen bumps appear at the site of attachment, which may itch for several weeks.

And if a tarantula has bitten a person, then there are signs of an allergic reaction:

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

When to see a doctor

Medical attention will be needed ifSpider 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 vaccine against tetanus. And with the bite of a black widow and the appearance of dangerous signs, they will introduce an antidote.

What to do if there are no dangerous symptoms

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

• Wash the bite site with soap and water.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
• Apply a cool, damp cloth or ice to the woundInsect 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 you better take actionSpider bites / Mayo Clinicso as not to collide with these creatures.

• Remember what dangerous spiders look like and where they live.
• When working or cleaning the basement, garage, attic, wear long-sleeved clothing, tuck trousers into socks, wear gloves, and hats.
• Shake out garden gloves and shoes.
• Apply repellents to your 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, surgical mask and safety glasses.