Spiders With a Mean Bite
Spiders are blamed for just about any red mark that kids or adults find on their body. There have been many raised welts that have been claimed to be the work of a spider with some being correct and others not. Believe it or not, many spider bits are actually harmless and can go unnoticed as well as untreated. Many spiders are actually venomous and that factor is needed as they hunt for food. But, their venom is for tiny prey and is so weak to humans, that many do not effect us.
It is the black widow spider in the United States that is considered to the the most dangerous. There are other countries who have a similar spider called the red-back spider. For this reason, any shiny, black spider that shows a red mark of some kind will probably be part of the widow family of spiders. There is another widow spider that is found around the world, but its toxin is weaker then others. If you feel that you have found a spider bite on our body, determining which spider did it could be impossible. Usually it is about three days after the discovery of the bite that victims seek treatment. By this time it is impossible to identify the one who did it. The black widow bite is usually unidentified by symptoms only because the actual bite leaves no visible sign. Spider bite symptoms will usually show signs of redness, swelling, pain and itching. Anyone with a suspected spider bite that has gotten worse over a twenty-four hour period should be concerned. Other spider bite symptoms can be drainage from the bite, an increase in the pain, numbness or tingling or a change in the color of the skin around the bite that looks like a halo.
Any bug or spider bite will always bring about the concern for anaphylaxis. The symptoms to this condition are hives, wheezing, weakness and shortness of breath. If any of these symptoms are exhibited by the victim, you should call 911 right away. The bite of the black widow will affect nerve function and muscle contraction where the bite of a brown recluse can cause whole body symptoms. Signs to notice will be: sweating, headache, leg cramps, exhaustion, chills, body aches, stomach cramps and a fast pulse. Spider bites have nothing specific in the way of first aid that you can offer the victim. Only medical staff of the emergency department can deal with spider bites.
