Pest Videos

Transcript

Hi, I'm Dr. Jorge Parada, medical advisor for the National Pest Management Association, here to talk about spider bites. 

Spiders may be one of the most feared arachnids of all time, between their eight legs, fangs, elusive habits and spooky association with Halloween. It's easy to understand why spiders have gotten such a bad reputation. But in fact, of all the species of arthropods, spiders are generally one of the least dangerous to humans and one of the most beneficial, as they help to control populations of problematic pests like wasps, flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, earwigs and stink bugs.

The biggest health concern posed by spiders is their ability to bite. Spider bites themselves can be painful, but the real concern is a spider's venom, which can include necrotic agents and neurotoxins. However, 98% of spiders are not dangerous, and the overwhelming majority of spiders do not bite. Spiders that do bite generally only do so if threatened. Even then, most spiders are too small to break the skin with their fangs, and their venom is too weak to be dangerous. Of those spiders that pose a risk to humans, the black widow and brown recluse spider are of the most concern in the United States.

The bite of a black widow spider feels like a pin prick. Early on, there may be slight swelling and faint red marks. Within a few hours, though intense pain and stiffness begin. Other symptoms include chills, fever, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Typically, black widow bites are less common, but more severe than brown recluse bites. That said, no one in the United States has died from a black widow spider bite in more than 10 years. 

The bite of a brown recluse spider produces a mild stinging followed by local redness and intense pain within eight hours. A fluid filled blister forms at the site and then sloughs off to leave a deep, enlarging ulcer. Reactions from a brown recluse spider bite vary from mild fever and rash to nausea and lethargy. In general, spider bites are less painful than a bee sting. Pain from non-venomous spider bites typically lasts from five to 60 minutes, while pain from a venomous spider bite frequently lasts longer than 24 hours.

Most spider bites do not require professional medical attention. Clean the bite site and apply a cool compress and consider tying a snug bandage above the bite and elevating the limb to help slow the venom spread. Aspirin or acetaminophen and antihistamine can be used to relieve minor signs and symptoms. If a local reaction continues to get worse for more than 24 hours, it may be time to seek medical attention. 

Look for redness spreading away from the bite, drainage from the bite, increased pain, numbness and tingling, or discoloration around the bite that looks like a halo or bullseye. In very rare cases, there have been reports of spider bites causing allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. If you suspect a spider has bitten you, try to bring it with you to the doctor so he can determine the best course of treatment based on the species. 

It is common for any unexplained skin irritation to be called a spider bite. In fact, research has shown that more than 80% of presumed spider bites are actually bites from other insects or due to skin infections such as MRSA. So having a spider will be helpful in confirming the bite. 

Thanks for watching this episode of health checks about spider bites. That's all the time we have today.