Are spiders most venomous or non-venomous?
Most of the 3,000 spiders found in the United States aren’t considered dangerous. Even if they did bite, most spiders don’t cause any damage to human skin. They can leave you with itchy, red bumps for up to a week.
If spiders manage to get through our skin, they can inject toxic venom that can lead to serious health problems.
What does a spider bite look like?
It’s easier to identify a spider bite if you were there when it happened, but it is possible that you will not notice the wound until several hours later.
It would be best if you looked for:
- Swelling
- A red welt
- skin damage
- Any troubling symptoms that may accompany the bite
You may also experience the following symptoms after a spider bite:
- Itching or rash
- Pain around the bite
- cramping or muscle pain
- blister in red or purple
- It is important to sweat
- difficulty in breathing
- Kopfschmerz
- nausea and vomiting
- fever
- chills
- restlessness or anxiety
- Rashes
- swollen lymph glands
- High blood pressure
Spider bites are more difficult to heal than other insect bites and can cause damage to the skin. To reduce the chance of infection, the bite must be kept clean.
How to treat spider bites at home
You can sometimes treat spider bites at your home. These steps will help you treat non-venomous spider bites.
- For 10 minutes, apply an Ice Pack to the bite.
- To reduce swelling, elevate the area.
- To relieve itching, take an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine ( Benadryl).
- To prevent infection, wash the area with soapy water.
- If you notice blisters, apply anti-bacterial ointment.
If you have symptoms from a spider bite, or if they persist, seek medical attention.
If you think you have been bit by any of these species, you should seek medical attention immediately.
- Brown recluse
- black widow
- hobo spider
- tarantula
- Brazilian wandering spider
Below, you can find out where these spiders hide.
Brown recluse
Brown recluses are approximately 1 inch in length and rarely act aggressively. It hides in dark and secluded places. It will only bite if it is caught against your skin. Because of its dark markings on the back, it’s sometimes called the violin spider.
The brown recluse can be found in:
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Kansas
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- Eastern Texas
Although the initial brown recluse bite is not painful, it will start to itch, hurt and turn red within 8 hours. Around the bite, a red or purple ring that resembles a bull’s eye or target will form.
Without treatment, the bite may blister and become more severe. It can cause swelling and pain, as well as fever and chills.
It can sometimes cause:
- coma or seizures
- jaundice
- Urine
- kidney disease
Although there is no cure for brown recluse bites, keeping the area clean can speed up healing.
Your doctor will inspect the bite and recommend antibiotics. In extreme cases, such as tissue death, you’ll need surgery and hospitalizationTrusted Source.
Black widow
The black widow spider is black and shiny with a distinctive, reddish hourglass-shaped mark on the belly.
The black widow is found mainly in the Western and Southern United States. They prefer to live in isolated spaces like:
- You can see piles of fallen leaves
- Woodpiles
- Boxes in the attic
The female black widow is the only one that is toxic. Black widow bites may feel like a tiny pinprick or nothing. However, your skin will react immediately. The puncture marks will be visible on your skin.
Black widow bite symptoms include:
- Muscle cramping
- Puncture site pain and burning
- Kopfschmerz
- High blood pressure
- Increased salivary and sweating
- nausea and vomiting
- numbness
- Restlessness
It is important to get treatment quickly, especially for older adults and children. Sometimes, your healthcare provider may prescribe antivenom to eliminate the venom.