The few Australian spiders that can cause potentially harmful bites include the funnel-web, the mouse, the red-back and the white-tailed spiders.
People at greater risk of severe reactions to spider venom include babies, young children, the elderly and people with an existing heart condition. Some people may also be allergic to certain venom and experience an adverse reaction. Immediate medical treatment is recommended. If in doubt, see your doctor, go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital or dial triple zero to call an ambulance.
Antivenoms are available for the treatment of red-back and funnel-web spider bites. Symptoms of spider bites Symptoms of a venomous spider bite depend on the species, but may include: Redness and itching Increasing pain Nausea Vomiting Sweating perspiring Dilated pupils Uncontrollable muscle spasms Unconsciousness.
First aid for spider bites Remember that first aid for a venomous spider bite depends on the species of spider. Suggestions include: Funnel-web and mouse spider — firmly bandage the affected area. Splint if possible. Make sure the person lies still, because not moving will help to slow the venom moving through the body. Red-back and white-tailed spider — wash the bitten area thoroughly. Do not bandage because pressure will increase pain.
Apply an icepack. In all cases, never cut a spider bite or tourniquet a limb. Seek immediate medical help. Catch the spider, if possible If you can, catch the spider and take it with you to hospital so that medical staff can identify the species and quickly administer the correct treatment. Tips on how to safely catch a spider include: Choose an empty container with a secure lid, like a jar.
Place the container over the spider. Slide a piece of stiff cardboard beneath the container to seal it. Hold the cardboard securely and turn the container upside down. The spider should drop to the bottom of the container. Remove the cardboard and attach the container lid.
If you cannot catch the spider, it will help medical staff if you can describe it. Features to look for include size, colour, bulk and where the spider was when it bit you. Each species of spider has a preferred home or hunting ground. Signs you should look for include: Funnel-web — found along the East Coast from Queensland to Tasmania and in some areas of South Australia.
It likes to live in holes in moist soil, such as in mulched garden beds. Erratic rather than symmetrical web lines may fan out from the hole. Fact: The notion that "if you didn't see what bit you, it was a spider" is to me one of the strangest of the widespread spider superstitions, already well established in according to a medical article published then.
Even some physicians, who really should know better, accept it! I have no idea how this belief originated, but it is quite false. Here are some facts: Unless you are sleeping on the basement floor, a spider might wander onto your bed as often as twice a year. Not every night! If you take elementary precautions like not letting the blankets or bedspread touch the floor or walls, the incidence of spiders on the bed will be effectively zero.
If a spider does get on a bed, usually no bite will result. Spiders have no reason to bite humans; they are not bloodsuckers, and are not aware of our existence in any case. So unless you actually saw a spider bite you, it's difficult to be certain that your wound was caused by a spider. Worldwide only a few species of spiders have fangs long enough to penetrate human skin and venom strong enough to hurt humans. Among these are widow spiders, with about 30 species, and recluse spiders, with more than species worldwide.
Typically, a spider bite looks like any other bug bite — a red, inflamed, sometimes itchy or painful bump on your skin — and may even go unnoticed. Harmless spider bites usually don't produce any other symptoms. Bites from some spiders, such as widow spiders and recluse spiders, might cause serious signs and symptoms. Severe spider bite symptoms occur as a result of the venom that the spider injects. Symptom severity depends on the type of spider, the amount of venom injected and how sensitive your body is to the venom.
Risk factors for spider bites include living in areas where spiders live and disturbing their natural habitat. Widow spiders and recluse spiders like warm climates and dark, dry places. Widow spiders can be found throughout the United States, except Alaska, and are more common in the rural South.
They're also found in Europe. They are more active in the warmer months and prefer to live in:. Recluse spiders are found most commonly in the southern half of the United States and in South America, where they are known as brown spiders. Their bodies are small and flat and can be very hard to detect in your home.
The bites usually look red…. Peppermint oil is a natural insecticide. Spiders aren't technically insects, but they seem to hate the oil all the same.
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Read about how they can be treated and avoided. Hobo spiders are found in the Pacific Northwestern United States. Learn more about what they look like and if you should worry about a hobo spider…. Their high levels of energy, endless curiosity, and remarkable ability to bounce back from stumbles can put kids at risk. Learn how to keep them safe…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. How to Identify and Treat Spider Bites. Story — Updated on September 30, What do spider bites look like?
How to treat a spider bite at home. Brown recluse. Share on Pinterest. Black widow. Hobo spider.
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