Treating Spider Bites

Treating spider bites properly is essential in order to avoid any kind of health complications. Read this article to get an idea on what to do for a spider bite.

Many people are so afraid of spiders that they cannot even think of going near them. If they get bitten by a spider, then they almost get scared to death. Though, the actual fact is that there are hardly any spider bites that are considered to be dangerous for humans. Out of more than 30,000 different species of spiders, barely 100 spiders bite humans. Moreover, most of them do not seriously affect the human health either because the size of the spider is very small or they release weak poison. When spiders bite, they make a little puncture on the skin surface and release a venomous substance. The main aim of treating spider bites is to control the spread of this venomous substance.

Symptoms of Spider Bite

There are mainly two different species of spiders which are mostly considered to be highly poisonous. Among them, a black widow spider most commonly bites humans. It can be identified with its glossy black body which is half inch in diameter, and a red colored hourglass mark on the belly. The other one is the brown recluse spider which has got a violin-shaped mark on its back.

At first, a spider bite feels like a mild pricking sensation or you may not feel anything at all. After some time, a localized swelling and reddening of the skin is noticed. It is followed by pain and itching in the area. Some people may get allergic reactions like hives, wheezing and shortness of breath. With the passage of time, the localized skin reaction may get aggravated, and the redness and pain may intensify and give numbness and tingling along with skin discoloration. A fluid-filled blister may form due to brown recluse spider bites. It is also possible that the spider bite symptoms may spread to other parts of the body. In that condition, one feels chills, fever, stomach cramps, leg cramps, headache, sweating, weakness, etc.

How to Treat Spider Bites

When a person is bitten by a spider, a few immediate simple measures need to be taken before the victim receives any medical aid. They are as follows:

The first and foremost effort is towards preventing the venom from spreading to other parts of the body. For this reason, do not let the victim move. Ask him or her to stay calm and remain motionless. If the bite is on the hands or legs, then keep it in an elevated position to minimize localized swelling.

The next step is to clean up the wounded area to check any kind of infection. Use warm water and soap to wash off the area thoroughly. If required, clean up the skin a number of times.

To ease off the discomfort, ice application on the affected area is highly beneficial. Wrap up a few ice cubes in a small towel and place it over it for 15 minutes. However, do not place the ice cube directly on the skin surface.

Tie a bandage tightly just above the location of the spider bite. However, take care that the bandage is not so tight that it stops blood circulation to the area completely. It is done to restrict flow of venom out of the affected area.

In case there is too much of skin itching, then baking soda can be safely used for treating spider bites. Prepare a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply it generously over the area.

In home treatment, symptoms and treatment of spider bites are not interdependent as such. However, in medical treatment, spider bite symptoms and treatment goes hand in hand. Like, if the patient is having pain and swelling, then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to control them. Those who get allergic reactions are given antihistamines as they are effective for controlling itching sensation. Anti-venom medicines are often given for black widow spider bite treatment. Suitable medicines are also there for treating brown recluse spider bites.

Hope you have clearly understood how to treat spider bites. After treating spider bites with home remedies, the victim may find complete relief from the symptoms of spider bites. Still, it is advisable to seek medical assistance once to check whether the condition is harmful or not. Never use any medicines or snakebite venom on the patient without taking advice from a doctor.