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Spiders get a bad rap. While creepy looking, they are generally harmless insects that build elaborate lairs that snare unwanted flies and mosquitoes. But some people fear them; so much that a psychologist came up with a scrabble winning word to define the fear.

The fear is predicated on the venomous members of the spider family. Black Widows and Brown Recluses contain a toxin that they release after a bite. While tall tales present an ominous caricature of the venomous spiders, the reality is the bites are treatable and rarely cause serious injury or death.

The more common affliction from a spider bite is an allergic reaction.

House spiders are an occasional guest in my home during the winter. They normally hide in areas that are warm and generally undisturbed. I run into one only when I clean a corner of the house I haven't seen in five years. Nonetheless, I do bump into one now and then.

Three years ago, I awoke with a bump just above the bridge of my nose. The bump was the size of a penny and the skin on and around it was a bright red. It didn't hurt, but there was an irritating itch that got worse as the day progressed.

I applied antihistamine cream and covered it with a small band-aid. While the bump never got larger or changed color, it lasted for five days before slowly receding. The itching disappeared as well.

I wondered if one of the stealth spiders marched out from a wall crack and bit me while I slept. Maybe one of them rappelled from the ceiling under the dark of night. After researching the topic and asking a friend who teaches first aid certification classes at the Red Cross, I realized my hunch was correct.

Unlike the detailed tests given to ascertain allergies, receiving a spider bite is the only was to figure out if you're allergic to one. Most spider bites are innocuous, causing a mild rash that abates like the one I incurred. Some people, however, can have more complications from an allergic reaction to a spider bite. It is important to know the possible symptoms.

Swelling from a spider bite occurs in vulnerable areas around the eyes, lips, hands, feet, and cheeks. Just like a minor skin rash, the swelling mitigates after a period of time. But with some people, the spider bite swelling can advance to the throat and cause difficulty with breathing. If you encounter swelling, you should immediately confer with a medical professional.

People who are acutely reactive to a spider bite may experience a light headed sensation. This occurs after a period

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