Halloween is right around the corner and when most people think of Halloween, they think of spiders. If you’ve ever been bitten by a spider, you may have experienced symptoms similar to other insect bites. Our Columbia pest control experts can help you identify a spider bite and what actions you should take to heal it.
Is it a spider bite?
Spider bites can be hard to differentiate from other insect bites (or even bee stings). Most spider bites will cause redness around the area and some itching or irritation. They may also hurt a little, but they aren’t dangerous to your health and symptoms should subside within 7-10 days.
Black widow bites will be red and will usually have two small holes where the fangs pierced your skin. You’ll also probably experience burning, pain, and swelling of the area. In some instances, you may experience muscle cramps, nausea, sweating, or chills.
Brown recluse bites will also be red, but you may not experience any pain for up to eight hours. Some bites may also have a red ring around the area and a blister filled with fluid. In some instances, you may experience muscle cramps, nausea, sweating, or chills.
What to do next
For brown recluse or black widow bites…
If you think you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider, wash out your spider bite and elevate the area to keep the venom from spreading. Then, seek medical attention. If you can, bring the spider that bit you with you to the doctor.
Most importantly: Don’t panic. brown recluse and black widow spider bites rarely result in death, as often rumored.
For regular bites…
Wash out your spider bite with anti-bacterial soap and water, then apply an ice pack or cold compress. If you’re experiencing pain, try taking a dose of over-the-counter aspirin or acetaminophen. Symptoms should subside within 7-10 days.
If the victim is a small child, seek medical attention. Also seek medical attention if it looks like there may be an allergic reaction occurring or the bite is infected.
