How to identify spider bites

Directory section 1: Identify common spider bites 1, and find the wounds with double teeth puncture. 2. Look for bite marks similar to "bull's-eye". 3, pay attention to the needle-like hair on the skin. 4. Identify other spider bites. Part II: Distinguish the bites of other insects 1. Remember that many insect bites are more painful than spider bites. 2. Pay attention to the scorpion sting. Don't confuse locust bites with spider bites. There are thousands of kinds of spiders in the world, but most of them have claws that are too short or fragile to penetrate human skin. So even if bitten by a spider, there is little chance of a fatal reaction. In the United States, only about three people die from spider bites every year. However, spider bites are sure to cause harm, and sometimes their venom can trigger a systemic reaction. The two most dangerous spiders are the black widow spider and the brown dodge spider. By distinguishing them from wounds caused by other spiders and insects, you can help you assess the severity of injuries and judge whether you need medical treatment.

Part 1: Identifying common spider bites

1, find a double tooth puncture wound. Being bitten by a black widow often causes immediate pain, which can be distinguished from other spider and insect bites by two tooth marks on its skin. Maybe your wound after being bitten by a black widow spider is painless, but generally speaking, because the black widow spider's claws are long and sharp, it will have at least moderate pain. The wound of double tooth puncture will start to turn red, inflame and form nodules. The tenderness at the wound will get worse and spread within an hour.

Tips for rapid treatment of spider bite of black widow

Bite mark shape: double teeth puncture wound.

Typical reaction: there is tenderness in the bitten area, which becomes an inflamed nodule, and the pain will spread within one hour.

Serious side effects: severe muscle spasm (especially in the abdomen), profuse sweating around bite marks, nausea, headache, unconsciousness, chills and high blood pressure, all of which are neurotoxic reactions caused by spider venom.

Antivenom? Yes If the bite causes severe pain and symptoms, you can use antivenom. It is usually injected into the thigh or vein by a doctor (intravenous injection), however, anti-venom may lead to more serious allergic reactions than venom symptoms.

Distinguish the black widow spider: The black widow spider is a shiny circular spider with a ruby or hourglass pattern on its abdomen.

Location: temperate regions, including the United States, Australia, South Africa, Southern Europe, South Asia and South America.

2. Look for bite marks similar to "bull's-eye". Brown spider bites are usually painless, or only cause a slight tingling sensation, similar to mosquito bites. But in about 30-60 minutes, the bite will turn red, accompanied by skin trauma similar to "bull's-eye". In the next eight hours, as the wound bursts with blood, it will cause severe pain and leave a soft blister. At this stage, the color of the skin near the bitten part will turn dark blue or purple (bruise), and a red ring will be formed around it. Generally speaking, you only need to see a doctor when the ulcer forms and lasts for more than several weeks.

Tips for quick treatment of brown spider bite

Bite shape: bull's eye.

Typical reaction: inflammation and redness appear within 30-60 minutes after bite. In the next 8 hours, as the wound is congested and ruptured, it will produce severe pain and leave a soft blister.

Serious side effects: No, but if the patient's immune system is weak, it may take several months to fully recover. This usually happens to children and the elderly.

Treatment: Wash the wound with mild soap and water, apply a cold compress bag and raise the affected area to relieve pain and inflammation. If necessary, take over-the-counter painkillers (paracetamol) or anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen). Generally speaking, ulcers will scab and fall off within a few weeks.

Antivenom? No, there is no antivenom. The venom of the brown spider will make the surrounding tissues necrotic and turn black or blue.

Distinguish Brown Dodge: Brown Dodge is brown or tan, with slender legs, head and oval abdomen. They usually have a violin-shaped spot on their heads.

Location: the southern and midwest of the United States.

3, pay attention to the needle-like hair on the skin. Although the tarantula looks terrible, this spider native to North America and South America is not poisonous and rarely bites people. However, tarantulas of the "New World" family do throw or spit out needle-like black hairs when they are stimulated or threatened. Note that tarantulas native to Africa and the Middle East have no needle-like hair, but they are more aggressive and can produce venom.

Rapid processing skills of tarantula hair

Features: tiny needle-like hair embedded in the skin.

Typical reaction: the bite will sting at first.

Serious side effects: allergic reaction, which can lead to urticaria, swelling and dyspnea.

Treatment: Adrenaline injection can relieve allergic reaction.

Location: Southwest America, South America and Central America.

4. Identify other spider bites. Black widow spiders and brown spiders have the strongest venom and often cause many symptoms, so their bite marks are the most obvious. However, other spider bites are more common and may also cause pain and swelling. For example, a wandering spider is a huge and fast-running spider with yellow stripes on its brown back. When wandering spiders bite, they will inject nerve venom, which will cause some skin death around them, but it is far less serious than brown spider venom. Bites of stray spiders and pocket spiders can cause discomfort and wounds, similar to those of bees or wasps, because the fangs of these spiders are not as big or fierce as bees or wasps, so the initial pain is much less.

In order to identify the type of spider bite, you can catch the spider, or take a photo with your mobile phone to the local clinic (someone may recognize it), or search online. Most spider bites are harmless or only cause slight discomfort. This discomfort will disappear in a few days.

Generally speaking, it is enough to treat spider bites with antibacterial gel, ice cubes and over-the-counter drugs.

Spiders usually bite only in self-defense, which usually happens when your skin or something else squeezes them.

Part II: Distinguishing the Bites of Other Insects

1, remember, many insect bites are more painful than spiders. Many bites are often mistaken for spider bites by patients because they think spiders do more harm than they actually do. For example, bees, wasps and other insects use their stings to cause skin trauma, which is much more harmful than the small fangs of spiders at first. Bees will leave thorns on their skin and die soon, while wasps (including bumblebees and wasps) will sting you repeatedly. The reaction of bee and wasp bites includes slight swelling and redness of the skin, such as minor contusion or bruise. Allergic people may have a serious allergic reaction, and if it is serious, they may need to see a doctor. Bees and wasps don't inject venom, but more people die each year from untreated allergic reactions than from spider bites.

Allergic reactions are usually controlled by injecting adrenaline, which can relieve allergies. The doctor can give you an injection. If you have an adrenaline pen, you can inject it yourself at home.

The most easily confused with honey stings are the bites of stray spiders and pocket spiders. Bites of black widows can also cause similar serious symptoms, but their double-tooth puncture wounds don't look like bee or wasp bites.

2. Pay attention to the pain of scorpion sting. Although scorpions have pliers like crabs, they sting people with their tails instead of pinching or biting people. Scorpion stings are usually painful, causing local redness and inflammation, but they are rarely very serious and usually do not require medical care. However, the bite of scorpion bark is potentially fatal because it produces a powerful neurotoxic venom. Although the scorpion's stinger looks very different from the black widow's two fangs, their pain and other symptoms may be very similar, because they both produce neurotoxic venom.

Anascorp is available, but it is not widely used in the United States because of its low mortality.

Like most spider bites, most scorpion stings can be treated with antibacterial gel, ice cubes and over-the-counter drugs.

Bark scorpions are native to Arizona, New Mexico and parts of California.

Don't confuse tick bite with spider bite. Tick bites are sometimes mistaken for brown spider bites, and vice versa, because they can all produce bull's-eye skin reactions. Some ticks (such as deer ticks) may carry Lyme disease and should not be taken lightly. Symptoms of Lyme disease carried by tick bites include concentric rash one month later, as well as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain. The main difference between tick bite and brown spider bite is that it will not cause harm at first, nor will it cause ulcer (necrosis) of the surrounding skin.

Another difference is that ticks usually dig holes in the skin of the host before infecting it, so sometimes you can see them under the skin surface, while spiders don't dig holes or build nests in people.

It is suggested that in order to avoid being bitten by spiders, you can choose to wear long-sleeved shirts and boots, and wear hats and gloves when cleaning dark crawling spaces such as garden sheds, garages, basements and attics. Remember to tuck the cuffs of shirts and trousers into gloves and socks to minimize the chance of contact with insects.

Always check gardening gloves, boots and clothes that have not been used for a while, and shake them well before putting them on.

Spraying insect repellent on clothes and shoes can effectively drive away spiders.

If you are bitten by a spider and cannot get medical assistance, you can immediately ice the wound, and then treat the wound with first-aid supplies such as antibacterial gel to prevent infection.

Because there are thousands of kinds of spiders in the world, you should be careful when traveling abroad, especially in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia. Other dangerous spiders worthy of attention in the world include Brazilian wandering spider, funnel web spider, mouse spider and red and black spider.

It is warned that spiders will be infected with tetanus, and biting people will infect people, so tetanus vaccination should be strengthened every 10 year.