A poisonous spider bite from the Black Widow or the Brown Recluse spiders, for example, is a different matter altogether. For a black widow bite, fang marks may be identified at the bite area on the victim’s skin, with the most common immediate symptoms being swelling, burning, pain and redness. Victims are advised to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms are noticed away from the site of the spider bite. The toxin of the black widow, for example, has the potential to affect nerve function as well as muscle contraction. With the brown recluse, severe pain usually follows about eight hours after the bite with immediate symptoms being redness and mild stinging. The general symptoms for both spiders, however, are headache; uncontrollable sweating and chills; joint pain or stiffness; fever; vomiting; exhaustion; rapid pulse; nausea; abdominal pain; muscle cramping and the development of a rash.

Since spider bites share the same symptoms as other insect bites or other small conditions, experts usually advise persons not to assume that they have been bitten by a spider unless the spider was observed in the act. Experts claim that up to 80% of wounds reported as being spider bites could easily be attributable to other sources. These shared symptoms are pain at the bite area, redness, itching and swelling. If the reaction at the bite site becomes worse over a 24 hour period, however, victims of the bite are advised to immediately visit the doctor. These worsening symptoms include drainage from the bite; redness moving away from the bite area, resembling a bull’s eye; increased tingling or numbness as well as increased pain; and discoloration. Misdiagnosis that occurs as a result of assuming a spider bite can potentially result in life-threatening circumstances as a result of mistreatment.

In any event, the type of treatment required for a spider bite depends primarily on the type of spider that did the biting. As mentioned earlier, about 98-99% of spider bites are harmless and so, does not necessarily require first aid treatment. If a necrotic bite is suffered by an individual, treatment usually includes the application of ice; localised care of the wound and keeping the affected limb immobile. However, there are no specified first aid techniques for spider bites. The more serious symptoms of the more venomous spiders such as the black widow and the brown recluse should be treated within the emergency room by trained medical personnel.