Insect and spider bites often cause minor swelling, redness, pain, and itching. These mild reactions are common. They may last from a few hours to a few days. Home treatment is often all that's needed to relieve the symptoms of a mild reaction to common stinging or biting spiders and insects, such as fleas, flies, and mosquitoes.
Some people have more severe reactions to bites or stings. Babies and children may be more affected than adults are.
Examples of problems that are more serious include:
Bites from spiders usually cause pain, swelling, redness, and itching at the site of the bite. In some people, especially children, the redness and swelling may be worse and last up to a few days.
A few people have severe reactions to the toxin injected by spiders. A toxic reaction occurs when the spider venom acts like a poison in the body. This type of reaction can occur from one bite from a highly toxic spider, or from multiple bites from spiders not normally considered poisonous.
Symptoms of a toxic reaction vary depending on the spider, the toxicity of the venom, and the amount of venom injected. Most often, symptoms improve or go away within 48 hours. Although hives and difficulty breathing may occur in an allergic reaction, these symptoms will not occur in a toxic reaction. It is possible to have both a toxic reaction and an allergic reaction at the same time.
A toxic reaction may require immediate medical care or may lead to death. Signs and symptoms of a toxic reaction may include:
The Hobo spider, a light brown spider with a yellowish-green tint on its abdomen, ranges in size from 0.4 in. (1 cm) to 0.6 in. (1.5 cm) . Hobo, or Northwestern brown, spiders (Tegenaria agrestis) are common and widespread in Europe and western central Asia. Since their introduction to North America in the early 1900s, hobo spiders have spread to British Columbia, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. These spiders build funnel webs in wood, rock, or debris piles.
Follow these tips to avoid bites from spiders.
If a spider gets on you, brush it off. Do not crush it.
Wear gloves if working in an area where spiders are likely to live.
Look for spiders in low-lying webs in garages, in barbecue grills, around swimming pools, and in wood piles.
Avoid wood or rock piles and dark areas where spiders live.
Clear away old furniture, tires, junk, newspaper, and old clothes. This will eliminate places spiders like to live.
Move your bed away from walls so spiders will be less likely to creep into bed with you.
Shake out and check bedding for spiders before getting in the bed.
Shake out and check clothing and shoes for spiders before putting them on.
Consider spraying insecticides on any high-risk areas, such as known black widow spiderwebs, indoor cracks and crevices, closets, attics, wood piles, and under eaves and around baseboards and window areas. Repeat treatment is usually necessary.
Insects that cause mild reactions include:
Some insects are more likely than others to cause allergic or toxic reactions.
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