By: EarthKind
Yes, many types of spiders do have the ability to bite humans. Many bites will cause minor irritation, but in some cases, they can lead to severe pain and reaction.
How many times have you noticed a red bump on your skin and assumed it was a spider bite without knowing where it came from?
Almost every home has these creepy-crawly pests. Most human-spider contact happens at home with a harmless house spider, but bites may not be as common as you think. However, they can happen. And bites from some types of venomous spiders can be dangerous because they have big enough fangs that can penetrate human skin. That’s why it’s important to learn how to identify a spider bite, the symptoms you should look for, and how to quickly treat them at home if medical attention is not needed.
How to Identify Common House Spider Bites
The most obvious signs of a spider bite include (but are not limited to) itching, swelling, or a raised, red bump at the bite area. The signs are often, if not severe, very similar to those of other insect bites or skin irritations. If you have noticed an abundance of these pests in your living environment, you might be quick to assume the cause of any skin irritation is caused by a spider.
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They are often blamed for mysterious red bumps or itchy spots on a person’s body, but they don’t bite people as often as you may think. When they do, it often goes unnoticed until after the fact. Identifying a bite from a spider is easiest if you see it happen. If you don’t see it happen, then it could very well be a bee sting, mosquito bite, or irritation caused by a different insect.
Knowing which common house spiders are dangerous will spare you from some stress and worry. If you spot one in your home and notice skin irritation, it’s possible you should get it checked out if you are experiencing aligning symptoms.
Spider Bite Symptoms to Watch For
Most spiders are harmless. However, there are some that can have dangerous bites. Black widow spider bites and brown recluse bites are the two most common dangerous types that could cause pain or more intense reactions. They have big enough fangs that can penetrate skin. They tend to hide in dark places like cupboards or garages filled with boxes, where people may not be expecting them. If you think you’ve been bitten, here are some symptoms to look for:
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Chills
- Sweating
- Muscle pain or cramping
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
Consult a physician if you believe you’ve been bitten by a dangerous spider, or are experiencing any of the symptoms above.
How to Treat
Please keep in mind that we are not medical experts. Links to medical resources are provided for more information, and these helpful tips have been made available for you to try based on your own assessment of your unique situation and medical needs.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms or skin irritation following a spider bite, there are many at-home treatments that may bring you relief. Start by washing the affected area with soap and water to prevent infection.
- Use ice or a cool compress to relieve inflammation
- If possible, elevate the area to reduce swelling
- Try an oral or topical antihistamine to combat itching
- If a blister appears, antibiotic ointment may help
If you’re looking for natural home remedies to help relieve bug bites, we have a resource that could help. You can use items such as basil leaves, peppermint, and cucumbers to help reduce the swelling and inflammation. If you’re looking to stop the constant itching, aloe vera can help and it’s good for your skin!
How Long Will a Bite Last?
A spider bite may go unnoticed at first, but eventually, the itchy red bump becomes hard to ignore. The sooner you treat a bite, the sooner it will disappear. Effects of a dangerous spider bite are typically noticed sooner and may last longer; discoloration around the bite mark may begin appearing within 15 minutes and healing can take up to 10 days for some people. Harmless spider bites will usually clear up in a few days. Avoid scratching as it may break the skin, increasing the risk of secondary infection, and taking longer to heal.
When to Worry About a Spider Bite and Seek Medical Attention
Although dangerous spider bites aren’t very common, they can happen. As mentioned above, the brown recluse and black widow spider are two dangerous species that you may encounter in the United States and North America.
If you are experiencing continued symptoms, worsened symptoms, or skin infection in the bite area, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention right away. If you believe you’re having some sort of allergic reaction to the bite, this is also a sign to visit a doctor. In these situations when you believe a dangerous bite has occurred, it’s best to get it checked out rather than waiting to see what happens. In rare cases, the reactions could be extremely severe.
Being proactive about preventing these pests from entering your home is a reliable way to help avoid this issue. Frequent cleaning to reduce clutter (the places they like to hide) and dusting to remove cobwebs is the first line of defense to help get rid of spiders. While some can be dangerous, most spiders are beneficial pests that help with other types of pest control and insect population control. Maintaining a pest-free home will lower the odds of getting bit inside your home.
March 30, 2018
Categories: Health Risks & Possible Danger, Pest Identification & Information
Tags: Identify Spiders, Spiders
The majority of the 3,000 spiders in the United States aren’t dangerous. Even if most spiders did bite, their fangs are too small or weak to puncture human skin. Their bites may leave itchy, red wounds that heal within a week or so.
The spiders that do manage to bite through our skin and insert toxic venom can cause serious health complications.
Read on to learn:
- what spider bites look like
- what spider varieties leave certain bites
- how to treat spider bites
Identifying a spider bite is easier if you saw the spider that bit you, but it’s possible that you won’t notice the wound until hours later.
Look for things like:
- swelling
- a red welt
- skin damage
- any troubling symptoms that accompany the bite
Other possible symptoms that may accompany a spider bite include:
Spider bites often take longer to heal than other insect bites, and they may affect skin tissues. It’s important to keep the bite clean to reduce the risk of infection.
In some cases, you can treat spider bites at home. For nonvenomous spider bites, follow these steps:
- Apply an ice pack on and off the bite for 10 minutes at a time.
- Elevate the area to reduce swelling.
- Take an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to help with itching.
- Clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to the area if blisters develop.
Seek medical attention if you’re showing symptoms of a spider bite or if the symptoms don’t go away over time.
Always seek medical attention if you suspect you’ve been bitten by one of the following species:
- brown recluse
- black widow
- hobo spider
- tarantula
- Brazilian wandering spider
Learn where these spiders hide and what they look like below.
The brown recluse is about 1 inch long and usually nonaggressive. It typically hides in dark, secluded spaces. It only bites if it’s trapped against your skin. It’s also called the violin spider because of the dark marking on its back.
The brown recluse is usually found in areas such as:
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Kansas
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- Eastern Texas
The initial brown recluse bite may be painless, but within 8 hours, it’ll begin to itch, hurt, and turn red. A red or purple ring resembling a target or bull’s-eye will develop around the bite.
The bite can blister and grow progressively worse without treatment to the point where it may kill surrounding tissue and cause fever, chills, and headache.
On rare occasions, it can cause:
- coma or seizures
- jaundice
- blood in urine
- kidney failure
There’s no antidote for a brown recluse bite, but keeping the area clean can encourage faster healing.
Your doctor will examine the bite and prescribe antibiotics. In extreme cases, such as tissue death, you’ll need surgery and hospitalization.
The black widow spider is shiny and black with a distinct, reddish, hourglass-shaped mark on its belly.
Found mostly in the warm Southern and Western United States, the black widow stays in secluded spaces such as:
- piles of fallen leaves
- woodpiles
- boxes in the attic
Only the female black widow is toxic. Black widow bites can feel like a small pinprick or nothing at all, but your skin’s reaction will be immediate. You’ll be able to see the two puncture marks on your skin.
Symptoms of a black widow bite include:
- muscle cramping
- pain and burning at puncture site
- headache
- high blood pressure
- increased saliva and sweating
- nausea and vomiting
- numbness
- restlessness
Prompt treatment is best, especially in children and older adults. In some cases, a healthcare provider will prescribe antivenom to remove the venom from your body.
Hobo spiders are common in the Pacific Northwest. They sit up high on long legs and run fast. Watch out if you’re cleaning window wells or sweeping out the garage, as they may attack when provoked. Hobo spiders lurk:
- behind furniture
- under baseboards
- in closets
A bite from a hobo spider may be unnoticeable at first, but it’ll cause pain and numbness within 15 minutes.
After 1 hour, the site will start to turn red. In 8 hours, it’ll become hardened and swollen. After 24 to 26 hours, the wound may discharge fluids and eventually turn black.
Other signs and symptoms may include:
- a red or purple blister at the puncture site
- visual or aural disruption
- weakness
- joint pain
- headaches
- nausea
- sweating
Hobo spider bites are slow to heal. Seek immediate medical treatment if you suspect you’ve been bitten by a hobo spider.
The treatment is similar to that of brown recluse spider bites. It may involve:
- corticosteroids
- antibiotics
- surgery
Treatment works best if administered within 24 hours of the bite.
Southwestern states with desert climates host tarantulas, but tarantulas may also be found as far east as the Mississippi River. They tend to hide under:
- logs or stones
- tree trunks
- in tunnels or burrows
You can usually identify tarantulas by their appearance. They’re:
- 3 to 5 inches long
- have a hairy texture
- have visible fangs that hang down
Tarantulas aren’t aggressive. The venom from the species found in the United States isn’t considered dangerous. Their bite will feel like a bee sting. The area will become warm and red.
Other potential symptoms include:
Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
The Brazilian wandering spider is native to Central and South America. It moves quickly and aggressively. It can grow up to 5 inches long. It’s considered one of the most venomous spiders in the world.
The bite of a Brazilian wandering spider is extremely painful. It can quickly result in heavy sweating and drooling. The skin around the bite will usually swell, turn red, and get hot.
In severe cases, the bite can result in dead tissue or death.
Seek emergency treatment immediately. Antivenom is available for this spider’s bite.
Common all over the country, wolf spiders measure 3 to 4 inches long and look similar to tarantulas. They like to stalk their prey by hunting on the ground.
You’ll find them:
- in sand and gravel
- around the bases of doors and windows
- in house plants
Look for two large eyes in the middle of their faces, accompanied by six smaller eyes.
A wolf spider’s bite may tear the skin and cause pain, redness, and swelling. You may also experience swollen lymph nodes as a result of the bite.
For some people, healing can take up to 10 days. In rare cases, the bite can lead to tissue damage.
The sand-colored camel spider is found in desert climates and has a powerful pincer on its head.
A camel spider will always seek the coolest place around, which just may be your shadow. A fast runner (up to 10 mph), it may be only 2 to 3 inches long. In some locations, it grows up to 6 to 8 inches in length.
Because of its large jaws, a camel spider can leave a significant wound in human skin. These spiders don’t produce venom, but you may get an infection due to the open wound.
You may also experience swelling around the bite wound and mild to intense bleeding.
One of the most common household spiders, the jumping spider exists throughout the United States. Usually only 1/2 inch long, it has a stout, hairy body.
The most common type is black with white spots on top. It moves erratically and actually jumps as a method of moving between locations. You’re likely to find it outside in gardens and near other vegetation.
The jumping spider’s bite is usually no worse than a wasp sting. It can be dangerous if you’re allergic to spider venom. Serious symptoms include:
- pain
- itching
- redness
- swelling
- headaches
They’ll attack if threatened, so use gloves when gardening.
Call 911 if you or someone you know is showing signs of full-body shock or having trouble breathing. Always seek medical attention if you suspect you’re feeling symptoms from a spider bite or if the symptoms don’t go away over time.
A tetanus booster is recommended if you’re not up to date on this immunization.
For the best outcome, seek treatment for a spider bite within 24 hours of being bitten.