- 1. Brown spider bite
- Treatment for brown spider bite
- 2. Wandering spider bite
- Treatment for wandering spider bites
- 3. Black widow spider bite
- Treatment for black widow spider bite
- How to avoid spider bites
Spiders can be poisonous and pose a real health hazard, especially black and brown ones, which are usually the most dangerous.
What to do if you are bitten by a spider, consists of:
- Wash the bite with soap and water; Raise the limb where the sting is; Do not tie or pinch the bite; Do not suck the poison out of the bite; Place warm compresses or a cloth soaked with hot water at the site of the bite to relieve pain; Go to the hospital immediately to begin proper treatment.
If possible, take the spider, even if dead, to the hospital to help doctors better identify the type of spider that made the bite, facilitating treatment and speeding recovery.
1. Brown spider bite
The bites caused by this type of spider are more frequent in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil, such as São Paulo, Paraná or Rio Grande do Sul. The brown spider is a small type of spider that can reach 3 cm in length and its body it is grayish brown in color.
Where they are: they are more active at night and, therefore, during the day they hide in dark places such as roots, tree bark, behind furniture, in garages, abandoned boxes or bricks, for example.
Symptoms of the bite: initially the spider does not feel the bite, but up to 24 hours there is an increasing pain, redness, blisters and swelling in the area of the bite and the person may also experience fever, malaise and vomiting. After 5 days it is common for a black scab to appear on the skin that falls 2 to 3 weeks later, causing a wound that must be treated at the hospital.
Special care: the region should always be kept dry and avoid physical activity, as it can help spread the poison throughout the body.
Treatment for brown spider bite
Treatment should be done at the hospital with the injection of serum for the poison of the brown spider. In some cases, especially when more than 24 hours have passed, the doctor may not advise the use of the serum because its effect may not outweigh the risks.
In addition, the shell caused by the spider's bite must be removed by surgery to facilitate healing and treatments on the spot must be done by a nurse at the hospital. In the most severe cases, in which the bite affected a very large region, it may still be necessary to have a repair operation on the site.
2. Wandering spider bite
These bites are frequent throughout the Brazilian territory, since it is possible to find this spider throughout South America. However, there is a greater number of cases during the months of March and April in the Southeast of the country, as they are periods in which the wandering spider is most active.
The spider spider, generally, is a large spider that can reach 15 cm in length and its body is grayish or yellowish brown. This type of spider is known for adopting a defensive position that consists of leaning on the last 2 pairs of legs, lifting the head and the front legs. They can also jump towards their enemy, up to 40 cm away.
Where they are found: they can be found in dark and damp places like bark, fallen logs, banana trees, inside shoes, behind furniture or curtains, for example.
Symptoms of the bite: severe pain appears shortly after the bite, accompanied by marks, swelling and redness at the location of the bite. In addition, there may be an increase in heart rate, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation and increased blood pressure.
Treatment for wandering spider bites
Treatment should be done at the hospital with the injection of anesthetics at the site of the bite to help reduce the pain that ends up disappearing within 3 hours after the accident. Only in cases of more severe symptoms, such as a slow heartbeat or shortness of breath, is it necessary to undergo treatment with serum for the venom of this spider.
3. Black widow spider bite
This type of spider is more common near the region with the sea, especially near abandoned beaches, but the bites can happen throughout Brazil, as the black widow is distributed in tropical and temperate regions.
The black widow is a small type of spider, about 2 cm, which has long, thin legs, as well as a black body with a spot on the belly, usually red. Although this spider does not attack, it can bite when pressed against the body.
Where they are: they stay in humid and dark places and, therefore, they can be in places like bushes, tires, empty cans, shoes and lawns, for example.
Symptoms of the sting: start with a sharp pain at the location of the sting, as if it had a pin pricking, and after 15 minutes the pain turns into a burning sensation that worsens for 48 hours. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and increased body temperature are also common.
Treatment for black widow spider bite
Treatment should be started at the hospital as soon as possible with the injection of a specific serum for spider venom. Symptoms usually improve up to 3 hours after the start of treatment, but the patient must be hospitalized for 24 hours to see if the symptoms reappear.
Knowing what to do in these types of situations is important to save a life. So, learn what to do in case of stings by other animals like snake or bee.
How to avoid spider bites
To prevent a person from being bitten by a spider it is important to keep the house and wasteland clean, as it is in dirty and humid places that these animals reproduce and live. The accumulation of rubble and construction materials also favors proliferation and, consequently, a person who works and lives close to these places is more likely to be bitten by spiders and even scorpions, so one should avoid allowing these products to accumulate. Find out what to do in case of a scorpion bite.
In addition, people who live in places with infestation of these animals should always shake their clothes before dressing and it is also necessary to tap shoes and boots before putting them on, as this prevents the occurrence of bites.
