Have you ever woken up in the morning to a big bump on your arm or leg? Nine times out of ten the bump is self-diagnosed as a spider bite and the panic begins to set in. Before you think you have a limb filled with venom, here’s what you should know about spider bites.
Spiders to Worry About
The bad news is that pretty much all spiders are venomous. The good news is that their venom is too weak or there isn’t enough to cause bodily harm to humans. In all of North America, there are only two spiders that can cause severe health problems: the famous black widow and the brown recluse spider. In the U.S. the black widow takes first place for the most venomous spider.
Common Symptoms
A spider’s bite will lead to redness, swelling, pain, and itching of the skin. If the bump worsens after the initial 24 hours then seek medical attention. Watch for any drainage, increased pain, numbness, or a bullseye-like redness around the bite. Most of these symptoms will only be severe when you are bitten by the black widow or brown recluse spider. These spiders can cause more severe symptoms like sweating, chills, body aches, muscle cramps, and increased blood pressure.
Misdiagnosing
Since there are only two major spiders to worry about, bites from other spiders will have less severe symptoms. These red bumps oftentimes get misdiagnosed with skin boils and other skin infections. Spider bite or not, head to the doctor and have your skin checked out to see what caused the irritation of your skin.
Waking up with a spider bite is a frightening feeling, but knowing the facts can help you sigh in relief. When you want to remove spiders or any other type of pest from your home, contact the professionals at Knockout Pest Control, To learn more, or to schedule an inspection of your home, give us a call at (800) 244-7378.
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