Spider Bite

Is this your child’s symptom?

Symptoms of a Spider Bite

• Most spider bites cause local pain, redness and swelling. It’s much like a bee sting reaction.
• A few spiders (such as the Black Widow) can cause a more severe reaction.
• Helpful if spider seen on the skin or around the child

Cause of Spider Bite Reactions

• Most spiders have tiny fangs. They inject venom into the skin.
• The venom is what causes all the symptoms.

Types of Spider Bites

Black Widow Spider Bite

• A shiny, jet-black spider with long legs (total size 1 inch or 25 mm).
• A red (or orange) hourglass-shaped marking on its under-side.
• Causes immediate local pain and swelling.
• Sometimes, you can see 2 fang marks at the bite site.
• Severe muscle cramps (especially stomach cramps) occur within 1 to 6 hours. These last 24 to 48 hours.
• Rarely causes death. Exception: bitten by several spiders or small child is bitten.
• Note: many are dry bites because the fangs are small.
• The brown widow spider is related to the black widow. It is found in southern US.
• Brown widow spider bites are treated the same as black widow bites.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite

• A brown spider with long legs (total size ½ inch or 12 mm).
• A dark violin shaped marking on top of its head.
• Causes pain at the bite. Blisters form within 4 to 8 hours.
• The center becomes bluish and depressed (crater-like) over 2 to 3 days.
• Skin damage may require skin grafting in 10% of cases.
• Other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain can occur. No life-threatening symptoms occur.
• Brown recluse spiders are hard to identify. If you can, bring the spider along in a jar.

Non-dangerous Spider Bites

• More than 50 spiders in the U.S. have venom. Their bites cause reactions that are not serious. This includes pain or redness at the bite site.
• The bites are painful and swollen. This lasts for 1 or 2 days. They can feel and look like a bee sting.
• Some single, unexplained, tender bites that occur during the night are due to spiders.

When to Call for Spider Bite

Call 911 Now

• Trouble breathing or wheezing
• Passed out (fainted) or too weak to stand
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Fever and bite looks infected (spreading redness)
• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• New redness starts more than 24 hours after the bite. Note: any redness in the first 24 hours is due to venom.
• More than 48 hours since the bite and redness now getting larger
• Bite starts to look bad (such as skin damage, blister or purple color)
• Bite pain lasts more than 2 days
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice for Non-dangerous Spider Bites

1. What You Should Know About Spider Bites:
   • Most spider bites look and feel like a bee sting.
   • The main symptoms are pain and redness.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Clean the Bite:
   • Wash the bite well with soap and water.
3. Cold Pack for Pain:
   • For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
   • Put it on the bite for 20 minutes.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
5. What to Expect:
   • The swelling and pain lasts for 1 to 2 days.
   • It should not be any worse than a bee sting.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Severe bite pain lasts more than 2 hours after pain medicine
   • Stomach pains or muscle cramps occur
   • Bite pain lasts more than 2 days (48 hours)
   • Bite starts to look infected
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Last Reviewed: 10/15/2021

Last Revised: 09/30/2021

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite | CS Mott Children’s Hospital

Topic Overview

What is a brown recluse spider?

Brown recluse, violin, or fiddleback ( Loxosceles) spiders are about 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long with a dark violin-shaped mark on the combined head and midsection (cephalothorax). They are found most often in the south-central part of the United States and live in hot, dry, abandoned areas, such as wood or rock piles.

See a picture of a brown recluse spider.

What are the symptoms?

Brown recluse spider bites don’t always hurt right away. In fact, you may not know that you have been bitten until other symptoms appear. Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite include:

• Reddened skin that may be followed by a blister that forms at the bite site.
• Mild to intense pain and itching for 2 to 8 hours following the bite.
• An open sore (ulcer) with a breakdown of tissue (necrosis) that develops a week or more following the bite. This may take months to heal.

Some people have a severe, systemic (whole-body) reaction to brown recluse spider bites, including the rapid destruction of red blood cells and anemia (hemolytic anemia). Signs and symptoms include:

• Fever and chills.
• Skin rash all over the body with many tiny, flat purple and red spots.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Joint pain.

What should I do if a brown recluse spider bites me?

If you think you have been bitten by a brown recluse spider:

• Remain calm. Too much excitement or movement will increase the flow of venom into the blood.
• Apply a cool, wet cloth to the bite, or cover the bite with a cloth and apply an ice bag.
• Do not apply a tourniquet. It may cause more harm than benefit.
• Try to positively identify the spider or catch it to confirm its type.

A brown recluse bite can be serious and may require immediate medical care. Call a doctor if:

• You have severe symptoms throughout your body.
• An open sore and necrosis develop. Necrosis is black, dead tissue.

How is a brown recluse spider bite diagnosed?

A brown recluse spider bite is diagnosed through a physical examination and questions about the bite. You should be prepared to describe the spider, where and when the bite took place, and what you were doing at the time. (If you are able to safely capture and transport the spider, bring it with you to show your doctor.) Your doctor will ask what your main symptoms are, when they began, and how they have developed, progressed, or changed since the bite.

How is it treated?

Medicine to counteract brown recluse spider venom is not available in the United States or Canada. Treatment depends on how severe the bite is. For bites that:

• Do not develop open sores, treatment includes applying a cold compress, elevating the bite area, and avoiding moving the bite area.
• Cause an open sore (ulcer) and dead skin (necrosis), treatment includes removing the dead skin from the sore. This may involve follow-up and replacing the dead skin with new skin (skin grafts).

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
may also be used for tissue damage from a spider bite.

Medicines that may be used include:

• Pain medicine, such as acetaminophen(Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
• Antihistamines, such as a nondrowsy one like loratadine (Claritin) or one that might make you sleepy like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to relieve itching.
• Antibiotics, if an infection is present.

Credits

Current as of:
February 26, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine
H. Michael O’Connor MD – Emergency Medicine

Current as of: February 26, 2020

Author:
Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine & H. Michael O’Connor MD – Emergency Medicine

What Spiders Bites Are the Most Dangerous

• To prevent infection from a spider bite, apply anti-itch creams and topical antibiotics. 
• Brown recluse or black widow spiders are venomous, and their bites require medical attention.
• But, these spider bites are extremely rare, and overall, most spiders do not bite humans at all.  
• Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.

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Most spiders, and spider bites, are harmless. There are more than 40,000 species of spiders in the world — and only 12 of the 500 species that bite have venom strong enough to harm humans. 

It’s important to remember that spiders largely avoid humans. And they usually only bite people as a defense like if you step on one hiding in your shoe.

If you think you have been bitten by a spider, here’s how you can distinguish between dangerous and non-dangerous bites, and get the appropriate treatment in each case. 

What does a spider bite look like? 

Spider bites cause a red inflamed bump on your skin, which can sometimes be itchy or painful.  

More serious bites can cause blistering and blanching — when the skin appears white or pale — says Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center and Certified Specialist in Poison Information (CSPI) with the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). 

The only two species with poisonous venom capable of causing death in the US are the brown recluse and black widow spiders. These bites will often look different and can have their own distinct set of symptoms: 

Brown recluse spider

Brown recluse spiders are extremely dangerous, if rare.

Pete Muller/Getty Images

The brown recluse spider, aka loxosceles reclusa, is most commonly found in the Southeastern and Midwestern states. Brown recluse spiders live in dark, dry places like basements, woodpiles, sheds, closets, and garages. 

As their name “recluse” suggests, they avoid human activity and only bite when they feel threatened, for example, if you put on your garden gloves after storing them for a while, and one has been living there. 

In 2014, 1,330 brown recluse spider bites were reported in the US, and 481 people required treatment in a health care facility. This spider’s bite is often painless, which can make it difficult to notice. But symptoms which can develop immediately around the bite include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling 
• Itching 
• Burning

Within one to three days, the venom can sometimes kill the skin cells and surrounding tissues near the bite, known medically as local necrosis. The bite may look like a bullseye, as red rings develop around a black blister, a symptom of the wound necrosis.

Black widow spider 

Black widow spiders are recognizable by their red hourglass.

Mark Kostich

The black widow is found throughout the US and — like brown recluse spiders — they reside in dark, close areas such as woodpiles, basements, crawl spaces, attics, and stored boxes. They also bite defensively when disturbed. 

Black widow spider bites are reported over 2500 times annually to US poison-control centers. While the black widow’s venom is poisonous and can be fatal, many bites result in only minimal symptoms. 

You would know if you had been bitten by a black widow spider, according to Weber. Their venomous bites produce a sharp pin prick-like sensation, which can then develop into a dull ache or numbness around the bite area. 

Two red fang marks may be visible, and surrounding redness may appear within one hour of the bite. However, unlike the brown recluse spider bite, it does not cause local necrosis.

The following severe symptoms can show up within one to six hours after the bite, and last anywhere from 12 to 48 hours:

• Sweating, nausea, or vomiting
• Severe muscle spasms and pain in the chest, abdomen, and lower back

How to treat a spider bite at home

Normally, you wouldn’t need medical attention for a spider bite, as the dangerous bites described above are extremely rare. Most of the time, you can use these basic measures to treat a spider bite at home, on your own: 

• A topical antibiotic to help prevent infection. This over-the-counter spray or ointment, such as Bacitracin or Neosporin, contains antibiotics that kill existing bacteria and stop more bacteria from growing around the wound.
• A topical hydrocortisone cream to help soothe the bite. Look for this 1% steroid cream, available as HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream over-the-counter, which works as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling. 
• Anti-itch products. Calamine lotion or oral antihistamines like Zyrtec can also help reduce irritation and itchiness around the bite. 

When to seek medical attention for a spider bite

If you’re concerned about your spider bite, or think it may have been a brown recluse or black widow, you should immediately consult a specialist at a poison control center over the phone, Weber says. You can call their poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222.  

The CSPI will recommend that you:

• Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water — and keep it clean — to reduce your risk of infection.  
• Do not apply ice to the bite area. Weber says that ice can intensify the venom’s damage by keeping it concentrated in the bite area, instead of flowing through the body.

The center will check back in with you after an hour, and then up to 72 hours after the first phone call. It’s important to carefully monitor your symptoms in the days following the bite, and you should seek further medical attention if you experience any of the following: 

• A fever
• Dark urine
• A red and dark ring-shaped rash around the bite area

These can be signs that venom is spreading through the body, says Weber. If this is the case, you’ll want to go to the emergency room, where doctors may give you intravenous fluids or even perform surgery to repair the wound.  

In severe cases, doctors may give you an antidote, or antivenom, which contains antibodies that bind to the venom and neutralizes its toxic effect. There is no antidote for the brown recluse spider’s venom, but there is one for the black widow’s venom. 

For example, in this study of 163 people with moderate to severe symptoms from a black widow spider bite, all patients treated with the antivenom experienced relief of symptoms within 31 minutes, on average. 

However, this antivenom has also been associated with severe allergic reactions, so it’s not recommended for people with asthma or atopy — that is, people who are genetically likely to develop allergic diseases.

Insider’s Takeaway: 

Spider bite appears as a red inflamed bump on your skin. They can sometimes be itchy or painful. 

Some spiders are more dangerous than others. I f you believe you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse or black widow, you should receive immediate medical attention.   

Hannah Roberts

Ad/Tech reporter, Business Insider UK

Spider Bite | Advocare Aroesty Ear, Nose & Throat Associates

Is this your symptom?

• Spider bite (North America)
• Or, there are bite symptoms (redness, pain, swelling) and a spider was seen nearby

Some Basics…

• There are over 20,000 species of spiders in the world. Most of these spiders cause harmless bites in humans.
• In the United States, there are two species that cause serious bites in humans. These are the black widow (Lactrodectus) and the brown recluse (Loxosceles).
• If you see your doctor, bring the spider along in a jar for identification. Brown recluse spiders are very hard to identify.
• Sometimes people wrongly believe that they have had a spider bite. Instead, they may have a skin infection with bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
• Tetanus shot may be needed if you are not fully protected against tetanus (received less than 3 shots). You will also need a tetanus booster if it has been longer than 10 years since your last one.

Black Widow Spider Bite

• Description: a shiny, jet-black spider with long legs. The total size of the spider is 1 inch (25 mm). It may have a red or orange hourglass-shaped marking on its underside. This will not be on all spiders of this species.
• Habitat: found throughout North America. They are not found in Alaska or the far North.
• Symptoms – Bite Wound: the bite causes moderate to severe pain right away. There is most often little to no reaction at the bite.
• Symptoms – Systemic: severe muscle cramps within 1- 6 hours. These will last 24-48 hours. Other symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, restlessness, high blood pressure, and weakness.
• Treatment – Wound Care: wash bite with soap and water. Put an ice pack on the bite.
• Treatment – Medications: parenteral analgesics may be needed for pain and benzodiazepines for muscle spasms. There is an anti-venom that is used for severe symptoms, seizures, or very high blood pressure.
• What to Expect: symptoms most often go away in 2-3 days. These bites rarely cause death. A bite is more serious in a small child, as are multiple bites.
• Special Note: many bite wounds are “dry bites. ” This means that no poison was injected into skin.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite

• Also known as the “violin” or “fiddleback” spider.
• Description: a brown spider with long legs. The total size of the spider is ½ inch (12 mm). It has a dark violin-shaped marking on top of its head. This will not be on all spiders of this species.
• Habitat: found in the Southern, Southwestern and Midwestern United States.
• Symptoms – Bite Wound: the spider’s poison causes cell destruction and blood cell breakdown. The bite is first painless or minimally painful. There will be pain and blisters at the bite within 4-8 hours. The middle becomes bluish and crater-like over 2-3 days. The skin inside the crater may die. This is called a necrotic ulcer.
• Symptoms – Systemic: these include fever, vomiting, and muscle aches. There are no life-threatening symptoms.
• Treatment – Wound Care: wash bite with soap and water. Put a cold pack on the bite.
• What to Expect: most necrotic ulcers heal over 1-8 weeks. Scarring happens to 10-15% of bites. Skin damage sometimes needs skin grafting.

Hobo Spider Bite

• Also known as the funnel-web spiders.
• Description: a brown spider with long legs. Size is about ½ to ¾ inch (12-20 mm). Appearance varies, it is often hard to identify.
• Habitat: found in North America.
• Symptoms – Bite Wound: generally considered harmless, despite their somewhat larger size. A bite may be painful and mildly swollen for 1 or 2 days (much like a bee sting).
• Symptoms – Systemic: none.
• Treatment – Wound Care: wash bite with soap and water. Put a cold pack on the bite.
• What to Expect: bite wounds heal completely.

Tarantulas

• Habitat: tarantulas are found in the Southern United States (like the Desert Southwest).
• Symptoms – Bite Wound: mild stinging with a little swelling at the bite. The bite does not cause skin tissue to die.
• Symptoms – Eye: some tarantulas have hairs that can come off. Like a fiberglass fragment, they can penetrate skin and cause itching and redness. If they lodge in the eye, they can cause eye problems.
• Symptoms – Systemic: none.
• Treatment – Wound Care: clean the bite wound with soap and water. Put a cold pack on it and take pain medicine. Get a tetanus booster if it has been more than 10 years since last shot.
• Treatment – Eye Irritation: see an eye doctor if you have irritation or redness after handling a tarantula. The doctor will perform a slit lamp exam of the eye.
• What to Expect: bite wounds fully heal. Eye problems often go away under the care of an eye doctor.

Minor (Non-Dangerous) Spider Bites

• More than 50 spiders in the United States and Canada have poison. They can cause minor, non-serious reactions. Single, unexplained painful bites that happen during the night can be from spiders.
• Symptoms – Bite Wound: the bites are painful and mildly swollen for 1-2 days. They may look like a bee sting.
• Symptoms – Systemic: none.
• Treatment – Wound Care: clean the bite wound with soap and water. Put a cold pack on the bite and take pain medicine.
• What to Expect: bite wounds fully heal.

When to Call for Spider Bite

Care Advice

Treatment of Non-Serious Spider Bites

1. What You Should Know:
   • There are over 20,000 species of spiders in the world. Most of these spiders cause harmless bites in humans.
   • You can treat non-serious spider bites at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.

2. Cleansing: Wash the bite with soap and water.

3. Cold Pack:
   • For pain or swelling, use a cold pack or ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
   • Put it on the spider bite for 10-20 minutes.
   • You may repeat this, as needed.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • You can take one of the following drugs if you have pain: acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
   • They are over-the-counter (OTC) pain drugs. You can buy them at the drugstore.
   • Use the lowest amount of a drug that makes your pain feel better.
   • Acetaminophen is safer than ibuprofen or naproxen in people over 65 years old.
   • Read the instructions and warnings on the package insert for all medicines you take.

5. What to Expect: You will have some swelling and pain for 1-2 days. It should not be any worse than a bee sting.

6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Severe bite pain lasts more than 2 hours after pain medicine
   • Stomach pains or muscle spasms
   • Bite pain lasts more than 2 days (48 hours)
   • Bite begins to look infected (redness, red streak, or is tender to touch)
   • You think you need to be seen
   • You get worse

Preventing Spider Bites

1. Prevention – Outdoors:
   • Be careful near wood piles and when clearing brush.
   • Wear long pants with the pants tucked into your socks.
   • Wear long-sleeved shirts and use gloves.
   • DEET is a very strong insect repellent. It also repels spiders.
2. Prevention – Indoors:
   • Remove spider webs.
   • Make certain that doorways and windows are sealed and insulated.
3. Using DEET-Containing Insect Repellents When Outdoors:
   • DEET is a very strong insect repellent. It also repels spiders.
   • Higher strength DEET works better. All DEET over 50% works the same. For children and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum strength of 30%. Health Canada recommends using a strength of 5-30% for adults.
   • Spray on exposed areas of skin. Do not put near your eyes, mouth or any irritated skin. Do not put it on skin that is covered by clothing.
   • Always wash it off with soap and water when you return indoors.
   • DEET can damage clothing made of synthetic fibers, plastics, and leather.
   • Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant may use DEET. No problems have been found.
   • Read all label instructions.

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Brown Recluse, Black Widow, Symptoms & Treatment

The black widow spider is so steeped in myth and mystique that it’s inspired the name of a comic book superhero. However, the fictional crimefighter may be more dangerous, as black widow spider bites on humans are actually quite rare. Black widow spiders are not naturally aggressive and bite only in self-defense.

That said, the venom of a black widow spider—known for its distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of females—is reported to be 15 times stronger than that of rattlesnake. This can cause serious complications or, rarely, death in young children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems. However, most symptoms from a black widow spider bite, while painful, are treatable and temporary.

What to Do for a Black Widow Spider Bite

If you know for certain or believe you have been bitten by a black widow, the first step is to remain calm. Too much movement could increase the flow of venom into your bloodstream.

To administer first aid for a black widow spider bite, follow these steps:

• Seek immediate medical treatment. Call your doctor, urgent care, hospital, or poison control (1-800-222-1222) to report the bite and get further instruction.

• Wash the affected area with soap and water.

• Apply ice or a cold pack to the area of the bite.

• Monitor yourself or the victim for any signs of allergic reaction, such as swelling that spreads beyond the bite. Swelling may be noticeable on the face, including mouth, lips and tongue.

• Call 911 if you or the victim has difficulty breathing.

• If possible, catch the spider so doctors can confirm the type and administer the correct treatment.

Stages of a Black Widow Spider Bite

Black widow spider bites tend to cause pain right away. You may also notice redness and swelling near the bite, and might even see one or two small fang marks. In many cases, this is the extent of the injury and the bite will heal without treatment.

For more severe bites, you may develop severe pain and muscle cramps within two hours. These cramps usually start near the bite, then spread through the body and intensify over the next 6 to 12 hours. In some cases, the pain is so severe people may believe they have appendicitis or a similar emergency condition. Other severe black widow spider bite symptoms include nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramping, chills, sweating, fever and headache.

Rarely, a black widow spider bite can cause a form of paralysis that affects the diaphragm, making breathing difficult. Do not try to diagnose the severity of breathing. Call 911 for any breathing symptoms.

How Doctors Treat Black Widow Spider Bites

There is an antivenom for black widow spiders available in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Doctors will typically administer antivenom if you are having problems breathing, have high blood pressure, or are pregnant.

For other patients with black widow spider bites, treatment includes:

• Calcium, for muscle pain relief

• Narcotic medications, including benzodiazepines and opioids, for severe pain

• Over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), for mild pain

Are Black Widow Spider Bites Deadly?

Black widow spider bites are more common than those from a brown recluse spider—2,500 black widow spider bites are reported in the U.S. each year—but the symptoms are usually treated effectively with antivenom and other medications. In world medical literature, there are only three recorded cases of fatal black widow spider bites, and in the United States, there are no known cases of death from a black widow spider bite.

The only recorded death related to a black widow spider bite was the result of a systemic reaction to the antivenom; however, the antivenom is usually administered safely and provides immediate, effective pain relief.

How to Prevent Black Widow Spider Bites

Black widow spiders like to hide in dark, protected areas, including garage corners, wood sheds, empty flower pots, boots, and piles of debris. Many bites occur when someone accidentally disturbs a black widow spider when moving items or putting on shoes or clothing where a spider may be hiding.

Take these steps to protect yourself from a potential black widow spider bite:

• Always wear gloves when working with stored items, such as when cleaning out a garage, picking up wood piles, or grabbing items that have been in storage.

• Shake out clothing, including gloves, jackets, shirts, boots or shoes, before putting them on—particularly if they’ve been stored in an attic, basement or garage.

• Wear a hat when working outdoors in a dark, hidden area, such as under a porch or deck, or when working inside an attic, basement, garage or shed.

Acute and recurrent skin ulceration after spider bite

Spider Bite | Advocare Childrens Medical Associates

Is this your child’s symptom?

If NOT, try one of these:

Symptoms of a Spider Bite

• Most spider bites cause local pain, redness and swelling. It’s much like a bee sting reaction.
• A few spiders (such as the Black Widow) can cause a more severe reaction.
• Helpful if spider seen on the skin or around the child

Cause of Spider Bite Reactions

• Most spiders have tiny fangs. They inject venom into the skin.
• The venom is what causes all the symptoms.

Types of Spider Bites

Black Widow Spider Bite

• A shiny, jet-black spider with long legs (total size 1 inch or 25 mm).
• A red (or orange) hourglass-shaped marking on its under-side.
• Causes immediate local pain and swelling.
• Sometimes, you can see 2 fang marks at the bite site.
• Severe muscle cramps (especially stomach cramps) occur within 1 to 6 hours. These last 24 to 48 hours.
• Rarely causes death. Exception: bitten by several spiders or small child is bitten.
• Note: many are dry bites because the fangs are small.
• The brown widow spider is related to the black widow. It is found in southern US.
• Brown widow spider bites are treated the same as black widow bites.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite

• A brown spider with long legs (total size ½ inch or 12 mm).
• A dark violin shaped marking on top of its head.
• Causes pain at the bite. Blisters form within 4 to 8 hours.
• The center becomes bluish and depressed (crater-like) over 2 to 3 days.
• Skin damage may require skin grafting in 10% of cases.
• Other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain can occur. No life-threatening symptoms occur.
• Brown recluse spiders are hard to identify. If you can, bring the spider along in a jar.

Non-dangerous Spider Bites

• More than 50 spiders in the U.S. have venom. Their bites cause reactions that are not serious. This includes pain or redness at the bite site.
• The bites are painful and swollen. This lasts for 1 or 2 days. They can feel and look like a bee sting.
• Some single, unexplained, tender bites that occur during the night are due to spiders.

When to Call for Spider Bite

Call 911 Now

• Trouble breathing or wheezing
• Passed out (fainted) or too weak to stand
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Fever and bite looks infected (spreading redness)
• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• New redness starts more than 24 hours after the bite. Note: any redness in the first 24 hours is due to venom.
• More than 48 hours since the bite and redness now getting larger
• Bite starts to look bad (such as skin damage, blister or purple color)
• Bite pain lasts more than 2 days
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Care Advice for Non-dangerous Spider Bites

1. What You Should Know About Spider Bites:
   • Most spider bites look and feel like a bee sting.
   • The main symptoms are pain and redness.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Clean the Bite:
   • Wash the bite well with soap and water.
3. Cold Pack for Pain:
   • For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
   • Put it on the bite for 20 minutes.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
5. What to Expect:
   • The swelling and pain lasts for 1 to 2 days.
   • It should not be any worse than a bee sting.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Severe bite pain lasts more than 2 hours after pain medicine
   • Stomach pains or muscle cramps occur
   • Bite pain lasts more than 2 days (48 hours)
   • Bite starts to look infected
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

90,000 Insect Bites – Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Reactions range from local irritation and mild swelling to severe lip swelling and difficulty breathing.

Treatment is usually supportive and aims to alleviate immune responses. Severe reactions and anaphylaxis require immediate intervention to maintain an airway and prevent cardiovascular failure. Administration of epinephrine (epinephrine) is the mainstay of treatment for severe reactions.

Fatal spider bites are extremely rare. Most spider bites can be treated with maintenance therapy

Guidelines are focused primarily on clinical experience and expert judgment due to the variability and unpredictability of the response.

There is a risk of developing a late phase (delayed) anaphylactic reactions.

Primary care physicians should provide notification of severe reactions in their patients.

The term insects denotes a separate taxonomic class. However, it is used throughout this article to refer to many arthropods, including arachnids. Contact with insects or arachnids can result in bites or stings.

Bites occur by piercing with the proboscis (appendage of the head of an animal) or with canines or the chewing part of the mouth. Depending on the source, the bites range from highly painful to completely insensitive, and health consequences can be associated with local trauma, injections of various substances (irritants, poisons, toxins, anesthetics, enzymes, anticoagulants), the possibility of transmission of the disease, secondary infections or systemic allergic reactions (rare).

Insect bites are produced from ovipositor (organs of animals used to lay eggs, which can also introduce various harmful substances) or from modified ovipositor (for example, prickly stings of bees and wasps). Bites are almost always painful immediately. Reactions range from local irritation and swelling to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. [Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Stinging honey bee Courtesy of Rick Vetter [Citation ends]. [Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Close up of a bee sting Courtesy of Rick Vetter [Citation ends].

Five easy ways: first aid for insect bites

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Intrusive insects are a minor minus of the summer season. Which one could come to terms with if the flying and crawling creatures hadn’t bite yet.

Often mosquito and fly bites do not entail unpleasant consequences, but sometimes the case can end in serious health problems and even death. Five (!) Times more people die annually from allergic reactions to the bites of stinging insects than from the bites of poisonous snakes. Therefore, everyone should know what to do with the bites of certain cockroach insects.

There are two main dangers associated with insect bites – infection in the affected areas and / or an allergic reaction to poison.

1. First aid for all bites. Regardless of which insect bite you received, doctors recommend applying a cotton swab moistened with calendula tincture to the wound – it will not only relieve inflammation, but also serve as an antiseptic due to the alcohol it contains. In any case, if you are going to nature, you need to have a gel or ointment with an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effect on hand (for example, fenistil-gel, homeopathic cicaderm ointment).If, after a bite, you have shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting, you should immediately consult a doctor!

2. If you have been bitten by a bee, wasp, hornet, ant. Insects of this species sting for self-defense. With a bite, a poison, consisting of proteins and other components that are classified as strong allergens, enters the human body. Therefore, the skin responds to the introduction of these substances with redness, pain and swelling. Moreover, the reaction to the ingress of the poisons of these insects into the body is very fast (20 minutes or less).Immediately after the bite, it is necessary to carefully, slowly, pull out the sting if it remains in the wound. Then, for disinfection, apply a cotton swab moistened with calendula tincture, hydrogen peroxide or an alcohol-containing liquid. Apply ice to the site of the bite to relieve swelling and prevent its development. You can also use a piece of raw, halved potato (or tomato), or place chopped parsley leaves over the affected area to help relieve pain and swelling. It is best to take an antihistamine to prevent an allergic reaction.

3. If an insect has stung in the mouth, face or head. Having provided first aid to the victim, you should definitely call an ambulance – after all, such a bite can cause suffocation. Also, it is necessary to resort to qualified help when the swelling or rash spreads to various parts of the body, swelling of the face, dizziness or headache, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and chest pain.

4. If you are bitten by a tick. One bite of this blood-sucking person is enough to contract five infections, the worst of which are tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease (borreliosis).Encephalitis is very difficult to diagnose, since in a mild form it can disguise itself as other viral diseases. The difficulty lies in the fact that the tick is very small in size, and its bite is painless, since, together with saliva, it injects an anesthetic substance into the wound. That is why the bite is most often found only after 2-3 days. It is necessary to remove the insect and treat the wound. For this, it is better to use tweezers, which need to very carefully hook the tick’s body as close to the head as possible.It is best to reach it with rotational movements and perpendicular to the bite. In this case, you should not press on the body of the insect, so as not to squeeze the infected contents into the wound. A high concentration of the virus is found in the head of the tick, so it should not be left under the skin. If, nevertheless, it did not work out completely to remove the insect, it is necessary to wipe the bite site with a cotton pad with alcohol and use a sterile medical needle or a sharp needle to remove it, having previously ignited it on fire, and after the procedure is completed, disinfect the wound and the skin around it with iodine.After removing the tick, it is advisable to take it to the laboratory to check for borreliosis or encephalitis. To do this, put the tick in a jar or vial. In no case should you comb the wound: the virus can enter the bloodstream through minor abrasions or insect bites!

5. If you have been bitten by lice. These insects are spreading rapidly in summer camps and are predominantly found in children. The presence of lice can be noticed by the characteristic itching of the scalp, which is caused by an allergic reaction of the body to a special substance secreted by these insects.At the same time, adult lice hide very deftly, and it is often quite difficult to detect them. It is much easier to see nits – white lice eggs, which they stick to the hair roots. A scattering of nits is very similar to dandruff, but unlike it, they cannot be shaken off, since they are firmly attached to the hair with a special adhesive. Lice bites cause severe itching and scratching. As a result, spots, wounds, irregularities can form on the scalp, which sometimes becomes fertile ground for the penetration of a secondary infection, and this, in turn, can lead to inflammation and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.

Having found lice on the scalp of a child, it is necessary to carry out the treatment as soon as possible, since these creatures reproduce quite quickly. And here it is better to leave aside the well-known folk methods (kerosene, hellebore water, etc.), which are actually ineffective and sometimes even dangerous, and resort to the help of one of the modern pediculicidal agents (for example, paranitis, nyx, para-plus etc.). For the subsequent combing out of lice, it is better to arm yourself with a special comb with frequent teeth.

Creatures to avoid being bitten

Of course, no one wants to be bitten by a crocodile or shark. But what about smaller animals? There are creatures that we could never think of as potentially dangerous. Frankly, no one wants to be bitten by anyone at all, but some nibbles are worse than others.

Ten of our list of creatures can bite a person, but this is the last thing you would ever want.Forget about big cats, giant fish with razor-sharp teeth and everything that hides under your bed at night – make sure none of these can ever bite you.

10. Domestic cats

A dog can mutilate a person, so most people are on their guard when they cross with an aggressive dog. On the other hand, cats do not seem to be a big threat, unless they are large representatives of this family. Domestic cats are small and their claws are more dangerous than their mighty but tiny jaws.

When a domestic cat bites you, it does little harm. Her sharp teeth, of course, will not give you the pleasure of touching the skin, but in most cases, you will not be left with a terrible wound. The real problem with the bite is the bacteria in her mouth.

All animals have bacteria in their saliva, and cats are no exception. Their bites almost always cause infection in humans. One of these diseases is caused by the protobacterium Bartonellahensealae. If it gets into the bloodstream, you are very likely to contract cat scratch disease.

On average, about 22,000 cases of the disease are reported in the United States each year, and almost always come from kittens. Cats also carry Pasteurellamultocida, which can become dangerous if left untreated.

9. Brazilian Wandering Spiders

Most people avoid spiders like the plague because arachnophobia is incredibly common. Nevertheless, there are spiders in the world, and you can’t get away from them. And from time to time a person has to deal with them.In most cases, these insects prefer to avoid humans, but they will bite you if they feel threatened. Most spider bites are just painful, like other insect bites, but not all.

The most dangerous spider bite in the world is from the Brazilian wandering spider. They are aggressive and highly venomous insects found in Brazil and other parts of Central and South America. If they feel threatened, they will bite you. In doing so, they can vary the amount of injected poison.

Regardless of the degree of poisoning, the bite of the Brazilian wandering spider is very painful.Its fangs dig deep into your flesh, causing severe burning pain in this place. Then you will experience sweating and goose bumps. After 30 minutes, you may experience changes in blood pressure, nausea, abdominal cramps, hypothermia, blurred vision, and symptoms that resemble shock.

In some cases, men will have prolonged painful erections. The most severe bites can be fatal if left untreated, but these spiders rarely inject enough venom to do so. Instead, they save a little for later and reward you with an excruciating bite that you won’t soon forget.

8. Arizona Gila Mouth

Gilamonsters are the only venomous lizards found in the United States, although they can be found in the south, in Mexican Sonora. Typically, these animals are slow in nature, so your chances of being bitten by one of them are slim.

These lizards are relatively long, growing up to 36 cm in length, although about 20% of this size is the tail. They have a large head with small eyes and a strong muzzle. They hunt small mammals, birds, snakes, insects, and any carrion they find.

They produce poison in the glands at the end of the lower jaw, which they inject into their prey. The Gila monster deliberately gnaws at its prey so that the poison gets where it wants. Yes, they don’t just bite once. They chew the victim with long, sharp teeth.

These teeth can cling to tissues, and it is quite problematic to pull the biting monster away from you. They will hold on for as long as they want and it will hurt. Very painful. The poison of the Arizona gila monster is dangerous, although it is unlikely to lead to death.His intended victim will surrender, and for the person it will be a terribly painful experience.

7. Bullet Ant

In the rainforests of Central and South America, there is a species of ant commonly known as the bullet ant. They are large ants, growing up to 30 mm in length, making them one of the largest members of this family.

Bullet ants sometimes come into contact with humans, and when this happens there is a chance that someone will be bitten. This is the last thing you need because they have the highest pain index on the Schmidt scale.

Schmidt described the pain of a bullet ant bite as “pure, intense, intense pain. How to walk on a blazing coal with an eight-centimeter nail in the heel. ” The bite is undoubtedly painful, and many compare it to a shot, hence the name.

At the site of the bite, you will feel “waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that does not subside until 24 hours.” Fortunately, a bullet bite will not kill you (unless you are allergic). Although it is quite possible that you will want to die, if only this pain stops.

6. Monkeys

Although people in the west are not too worried about being bitten by a monkey anytime soon, primates are fairly common in South America and Asia. Monkeys are a problem in densely populated areas including Brazil, India and Indonesia, so there are more people at risk of being bitten than you might think.

Monkeys are strong for their size, so you don’t want to be attacked by one of them. Their primary means of attack is a bite, and most species have powerful jaws with sharp teeth.A monkey bite will damage tissue, but the most serious threat comes from bacteria and viral pathogens that have settled in its mouth as at home.

Like most mammals, monkeys can carry and transmit rabies, which is 100% fatal if left untreated. Symptoms include hallucinations and partial paralysis, so this is not a picnic. However, this is not necessarily the biggest threat, as the disease is curable.

Monkeys can infect monkey herpes through a bite.This can lead to encephalomyelitis, which leads to inflammation of the brain. It is also accompanied by paralysis, loss of vision, and vomiting. The dangers are real, so if you are ever bitten by a monkey, seek immediate medical attention.

5. Tick

Nobody wants to be bitten by ticks, but they are more often viewed as annoying parasites than as potential threats. Interestingly, unlike everything else on this list, when a tick bites a person, they are unlikely to feel or even notice.Insects inject an anesthetic into the skin as soon as they pierce it to avoid detection.

After piercing the skin, the mite buries its head as deeply as possible, leaving part of the legs and most of the body outside. Then it starts feeding on your blood. While the mite’s head is inside, nibbling at your fluids, it transfers some of its own fluids to you, and that’s the real problem.

Ticks can cause many diseases, depending on where you are in the world.They can infect humans with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, southern tick-borne rash, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease, which is transmitted by the bacterium Borreliaburgdoferi.

Lyme disease is the biggest threat most often caused by tick bites. Among other things, it can cause severe headaches, facial paralysis, arthritis, tendon and muscle pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, and nerve pain.

4. Rattlesnakes

Any snake bite will be an unforgettable event in the life of most people.After all, snakes have two long hypodermic needles capable of injecting large amounts of venom. Sure, fangs are pretty nasty, but the real pain comes from the venom, and it can be brutal.

In addition to the potentially fatal toxins, there are those that cause severe tissue damage and pain. Most dangerous is the secret of rattlesnakes, which inject venom with one of the highest levels of toxicity found among any snake in the Western Hemisphere.

When a poison is injected, it immediately affects your tissues and blood.It is hemotoxic, therefore it leads to coagulopathy and necrosis. Basically, no matter where you are bitten, your tissue starts to die off while it is still a part of you, and your blood forgets how to clot properly.

You can die from a rattlesnake bite if it enters a particularly dangerous place, such as the jugular vein, but most bites are not fatal. There is an antidote, and if it is injected within 6-48 hours of poisoning, you and your tissues will be safe. However, severe pain is just one of the many gifts the rattlesnake is willing to give to its victims.

3. Tsetse fly

For many people around the world, a fly is nothing more than a pest. This is a little different in sub-Saharan Africa, where you can see the tsetse fly. These small dipterans are about the same size as indoor flies, but unlike the more annoying variety, tsetse flies bite and feed on blood.

When a tsetse fly bites you, you will feel mild pain and irritation in the area, but this is not a real problem. Like many other insects, the tsetse fly is a carrier.It carries the parasitic organism that causes African trypanosomiasis, also known as African sleeping sickness.

If you become sick with African sleeping sickness, you will experience neurological and meningoencephalitic (resembling meningitis and encephalitis) symptoms. This can lead to behavioral changes, loss of coordination and disrupted sleep cycles, hence the name.

Treatment is usually successful if given before neurological symptoms appear.Over the years, the disease has become easier to treat, the number of deaths has decreased, but they still occur. If left untreated, the disease becomes 100% fatal, and thousands of people will die from it every year.

2. People

Yes, people (not zombies) are some of the most dangerous creatures that can bite you. Of course, this does not mean that a child biting another on the playground is necessarily dangerous, well, unless it hurts the skin. However, a human bite can be life-threatening for several reasons.

In humans, there are about 700 types of bacteria in the mouth. While they float safely in our saliva, they can cause blood flow problems. Other animals transmit various diseases, but not everything that an animal carries can infect a person.

The problem with one person biting another is that any disease that the biting person suffers can infect the victim. This includes everything from rabies and tetanus to hepatitis and HIV. In addition, you are likely to also have an infection spreading from the site of the bite.

On the one hand, a human bite can cause fatal illness and infection. However, on the other hand, this is not the biggest threat. After all, not many people are running around to eat their own kind. However, if you somehow find yourself on another person’s menu, you will need to seek immediate medical attention.

1. Mosquito

The mosquito bites with a highly specialized six-part mouth. You might think that they are just sticking their proboscis into the skin and sucking blood, but they only do this after their lower and upper jaws have pierced the skin.In a way, they bite you, although you will never feel it.

Mosquito bites are not often noticed by the victim in the process, so it is usually too late to stop them when you see the bloodsucker. Despite their ability to mask pain from their prey, the bite itself is not the biggest threat these little bloodsuckers pose.

Mosquitoes are often called the most dangerous animals in the world, and this is a well-deserved title. They are prolific vectors that can transmit many diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria.

Malaria is ultimately the most dangerous to humans, with an estimated 400,000 deaths annually. Mosquitoes kill more people than any other animal (including ourselves). So these itchy blisters aren’t just a minor irritation. In many parts of the world, it is a constant and deadly threat.
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Dangerous spiders or what to do if bitten by a spider?

Spiders are the most ancient inhabitants of the planet, according to scientists, these arthropods appeared
on Earth more than 400 million years ago.It should be noted that all spiders are predators and their venom is a weapon, using
which they get their food, and also defend themselves. This means that any spider is a priori poisonous.

Spiders rarely attack humans, they only bite when disturbed.
Therefore, when you see a spider indoors or outdoors, you do not need to take it with your hands.
Spider bites can be both deadly and downright unpleasant.
but not life-threatening. Almost all spiders have venom-secreting glands.Little spiders are not dangerous, as they simply cannot bite through human skin,
and the released poisonous substance is too small to cause any trouble.
Larger spider bites can be dangerous. A spider bite is hard not to notice – it looks like a hornet bite, it immediately causes pain and burning.

Many species of spiders live on the territory of Russia. What kind of arthropods should be feared, and what to do if a dangerous meeting could not be avoided?

Karakurt.

Karakurt lives in the south of Russia (Black Sea and Azov),
in the territories bordering with Kazakhstan (Orenburg region),
recently it was also found in Rostov, Volgograd, Saratov, Novosibirsk regions
and the Altai Territory. The most dangerous is the bite of a female karakurt, which is called the “black widow”.
According to experts, the poison of the “Black Widow” is 15 times stronger than the venom of a rattlesnake.
The bite of a black widow spider (photo of the spider on the right) usually causes sharp pain, as with a needle prick,
followed by a feeling of numbness; sometimes pain appears in the area around the bite.In addition, spastic pain and stiffness in the muscles of the abdomen, shoulders, back, or chest develop.
Characterized by a sharp tension of the abdominal muscles, dilated pupils.
Other possible symptoms are anxiety, anxiety, increased sweating, headaches,
dizziness, swelling of the eyelids, skin rash and itching, nausea, vomiting, increased salivation and general weakness.
In severe cases, excitement, delirium, spasm of the bronchi with difficulty breathing are possible.

South Russian Tarantula

The South Russian Tarantula lives in the steppe and semi-desert territories of our country, they were also seen in the Saratov, Oryol and other regions.The bite of the South Russian tarantula is not fatal, but it causes pain and burning at the site of injury.
An angry spider can throw off
fine hairs that get on the skin or eyes can cause an allergic reaction
(eg, urticaria, Quincke’s edema, bronchospasm) in sensitive individuals.
The pain from a tarantula bite persists for a day, gradually subsiding. Lethargy may be noted
drowsiness, sweating, palpitations.

Cross spider

Cross spiders are one of the most common arthropod species in the world.The spider got its name due to the characteristic mark on the body – a pattern in the form of a cross is clearly visible on the abdomen.
The bite of a spider spider for humans does not pose a fatal threat, however, at the site of the bite it will be felt
burning sensation, there may be malaise in the form of headaches and joint aches.
The bite site may retain some swelling for several days.

House Spider

There are several types of domestic spiders – black, gray, brown and others.Most often in everyday life there is a kind of black domestic spider – Badumna insignis,
who prefers to live both inside the home and outside – in the window frames, the walls of the building, that is, everywhere,
where he will not be prevented from weaving his web. Domestic spider bites are extremely rare.
a person needs to try very hard to get such an injury.
If the trouble happened, then the bite site will really hurt.

Heiracantium

The place of residence of this arthropod is the North Caucasus, but sometimes heiracantium is found in other parts of our country.The bite of the heiracantium on the human body is practically invisible.
After a bite, a person experiences pain for several days, and then everything goes away by itself,
therefore, experts assure that no antidotes are required.

Argiope

Agriopa – black and yellow striped spider,
living in the south of Russia, in the Volga region and in the Crimea. Prefers meadows, roadsides and forest edges.
The abdomen has a striped black-yellow-white pattern, therefore it is also called a wasp spider.The bite of this spider is not fatal, but if it bites through the skin, the bite will swell and hurt a little.

Eresus black

Lives in the Novosibirsk region on the territory of Russia, is listed in the Red Book
Ryazan region in the category of rare species. Leads a burrowing way of life, inhabiting the burrows of beetles,
cracks and voids under stones.

The spider, although very beautiful, should not be touched.
Eresus are poisonous, their bites are painful.Instant pain is felt at the site of the bite,
which is replaced by a feeling of numbness. Unpleasant sensations disappear after 2 – 6 days. Eresus are not dangerous to human life.

What to do to avoid being bitten by a spider?

Be that as it may, it is very important to be vigilant when meeting a spider.
People who do not understand the species of these arthropods should be especially careful.
It is best to take steps to prevent the bite.Namely:

• do not touch the spider with your hands
• When walking in nature, do not stick your hands in different holes, under driftwood, etc.
• Shake off unwanted spiders – no need to try to hit the spider on yourself
• while working in the basement, outdoors or in areas where spiders are usually found,
  wear gloves on your hands, your feet should not be bare.
• Clean your home often – most spiders love dark, untouched places.

What to do if bitten by a spider?

Many spider bites only cause local reactions, including pain, redness, and swelling.To treat these symptoms, wash the bite area with soap and water.
Apply a cold compress and take a simple pain reliever such as paracetamol.
The limb that the spider bit (arm, leg) is better to lift up. This will help reduce inflammation and swelling.

Call a doctor urgently if:

Pain not relieved by cold compress and simple analgesic (paracetamol)

Pain extends beyond the area of ​​the bite

Headache develops, it becomes difficult to breathe or swallow

Swollen or painful glands in affected limbs
(in the armpits – with bites on the arm, in the groin – with bites on the leg)

Excessive sweating, trembling, tingling in the hands or feet appear

Indigestion appears: nausea, vomiting, cramps.

Increased heart rate (palpitations)

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90,000 What to do if bitten by a snake: is it possible to suck out the poison and apply a tourniquet?

Summer is the time for picnics and long walks in the woods.Everyone is attracted by the fresh air. However, such trips often end with an unpleasant meeting with a snake. Since the beginning of the summer period, 4 snake bites have already been registered in the Tavda urban district. Mostly bites are observed when visiting forest park areas, summer cottages and rural areas.

In case of a snakebite, you must urgently go to the emergency department of the central district hospital. In case of untimely contact to a medical institution, a lethal outcome may occur. What to do if bitten by a snake and how is it dangerous? In most cases, lovers of walks outside the city are faced with a danger in the form of an ordinary viper.Her bite, like the bite of most real vipers, is not fatal. Their poison belongs to the hemotoxic type, that is, after the bite, red blood cells begin to break down. Also in the venom of the viper contains a substance such as neurotoxin. It negatively affects the work of the cardiovascular system.
What to do if bitten by a snake and what first aid to provide?
It is essential to be able to correctly recognize the symptoms of a viper bite before receiving medical attention. These include:
● pain at the site of the bite;
● edema;
● development of lymphangitis and lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymphatic vessels and nodes) in the next two days after the bite.
Rarely, but the following symptoms may also occur:
● local necrosis at the site of the bite;
● hemorrhagic blisters;
● vomiting.
According to doctors, in most cases, a snake bite is accompanied by symptoms similar to poisoning. The number of deaths at the moment is less than 10%.
It often happens that the snake is frightened away and not allowed to bite to the end. In this case, the poison may remain on the surface of the limb. To prevent its absorption into the wound, it is necessary to remove it from the skin as quickly and carefully with the help of napkins as possible.
In order to reduce the risk of possible complications after a bite, it is necessary to know how to provide first aid correctly.
Who bit it:
You can recognize a poisonous bite from a non-poisonous one by its appearance. If one or two dots are visible on the spot, it is more likely to say that a poisonous snake has bitten. Non-toxic ones leave several bite marks. If you managed to kill the snake, then you can make sure that the bite is not dangerous by delivering it with the patient to the emergency department.
Leave the danger zone:
Snakes rarely crawl alone.If the bite occurred in a clearing, then it is worth moving away from this place at a safe distance. It is quite possible that there is more than one snake in that place.
Fixation of the limb:
After the bite, it is important to move the limb as little as possible. Each movement causes an increase in blood circulation, which accelerates the spread of the poison through the blood vessels. It is definitely not worth pressing on the bite site, it will quickly swell and hurt a lot anyway.
Treatment:
Trekking to areas with snakes should not be undertaken without a first aid kit.It must contain antiseptics (hydrogen peroxide 3%, chlorhexidine gluconate 2.4%, potassium permanganate 0.1-0.5%) and antiseptic wipes.
After the bite, rinse the area thoroughly with an antiseptic solution, then apply a bandage with an antiseptic napkin.
Processing should be carried out carefully, you should not press on the bite site, much less cut it or inject it with any preparations.
Drinking plenty of water:
After being bitten by a snake, you should drink as much water as possible.Any diuretic fluid is also allowed. This will reduce the concentration of the poison in the vessels. The liquid will somewhat speed up the healing process and remove the poison from the body.
The above actions must be carried out before contacting a medical facility. You should not try to get rid of the poison yourself. According to doctors, the classic “suction of the poison from the wound” will not help, since the substance quickly spreads through the blood. After contacting doctors, the patient will be injected with serum against snake bites.If the patient has a tendency to allergic reactions, it is necessary to warn the doctor about this. In this case, measures will be taken to prevent the development of allergies. Often it is because of her that deaths occur. However, it is worth remembering that an allergy pill will not save you from developing it after a snakebite. If the first signs of a reaction appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor in the next half hour or hour, where an antihistamine will be administered intravenously.
What not to do if bitten by a snake!
It is important to remember that improperly provided first aid may not only fail to save a person, but also worsen his condition.What to do if bitten by a snake – described above, now a few tips on what is strictly forbidden to do.
Apply tourniquet:
This is fraught with tissue necrosis around the bite. The applied tourniquet prevents the even distribution of the snake venom enzyme throughout the body. In a large dose, it is concentrated in one place, which several times increases its destructive potential.
Cut or rub the bite site:
Self-cutting tissue not only will not become an obstacle to the spread of poison, but can also cause various infections.
Drinking alcohol:
Contrary to the opinion of the majority that it will save you from poison, drinking alcohol after being bitten by a snake is strictly prohibited. Its ability to dilate blood vessels in this case will play a cruel joke: the poison will spread at an incredible speed, and its absorption will be several times faster.
What to do if bitten by a snake: how to prevent a bite?
A snakebite is much easier to prevent than to correct. If you are planning a hike in nature, it is worth remembering where the likelihood of encountering snakes is high.First of all, these are places close to swamps, lakes and other bodies of water. Also, snakes often live where there are many fallen trees that are overgrown with moss.
When planning a mushroom or berry hike, it is important to make sure you have the right shoes. These should be high rubber boots, and it is better to wear woolen socks under them. Also, when looking for mushrooms and berries, it is better to use a stick to push the grass away.
When going for a walk in the woods, remember that snakes are afraid of noise.Sometimes, in order for the snake to disappear by itself, it is necessary to talk loudly and rustle a lot of leaves under your feet. Snakes never attack first, they try to avoid collisions with people to the last.
If an unpleasant meeting has occurred, it is important to freeze and try to slowly walk away from the snake, without making any sudden movements. If she is crawling very close, then you need to freeze and not move.
If you are planning night hikes or camping, it is important to know that snakes are active at night.At this time, you need to be as careful as possible. Do not neglect the presence of flashlights. In addition to lighting the path, they will help scare away snakes.
It is very easy to confuse a snake with grass or twigs at night, so nothing needs to be lifted from the ground until you are sure it is safe.
There have been cases of snakes crawling into tents. Rarely, but this also happens. How to behave?
1. It is necessary to move away from it as slowly and carefully as possible.
2. Open all outputs.
3.Freeze and wait for the snake to leave the tent by itself.