by Lauren Beyenhof

Created on: January 22, 2008

Rarely does a spider bite become a life-threatening ordeal. In fact, serious spider bites are so uncommon that when they require immediate first-aid treatment, emergency room physicians are often unable to properly diagnose the type of bite, let alone treat it correctly. People who are prone to allergies and who may have exhibited allergic reactions to other creatures such as insects, should be particularly diligent to watch for any signs of an allergic reaction to a spider bite.

Allergic reactions can range from the mild to severe, depending on which type of bite was inflicted. Initially, a spider's bite causes pain or a stinging sensation. Swelling and redness at the location of the bite is likely to appear next. Hives, which are recognizable as raised red bumps, may break out on the skin. Hives are rarely the sole symptom of an allergic reaction. If hives start to spread over the entire body, be careful to watch out for other signs of more serious allergic response.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction in which a person's throat swells shut, making breathing difficult. Signs that anaphylaxis may be occurring include swelling of the lips and tongue, an itchy feeling in the throat or lips. A raspy, dry cough accompanied by wheezing and difficulty breathing requires immediate attention, and perhaps a shot of epinephrine. Failure to seek appropriate emergency intervention can result in the person going into shock.

Spiders that are commonly known to cause severe allergic reactions include:

Brown recluse
Black widow
Hobo Spider

A brown recluse's bite will cause a visible puncture wound that is red around the edges, tender and depressed in the center. The body's response to a brown recluse bite is to form a blister at the site of the bite, which will subsequently become an open sore that doesn't heal quickly. As with most spider bites, itching will be present. If the body reacts to the spider's venom and produces a severe allergic response, a fever, accompanied by nausea and vomiting is expected, and an all-over rash will break out, appearing as purplish reddish spots.

The most common allergic reaction to a black widow's bite is nausea and light-headedness. The site of the bite will show two puncture wounds from the spider's fangs. Stomach cramps, vomiting, and muscle spasms can take as little as thirty minutes or as long as a day to occur.

An allergic reaction to a Hobo spider's bite can take more than a day to develop. Symptoms begin as numbness and tingling, and a reddening of the skin. Similar to the brown recluse's bite, an open sore will appear, and the skin will begin to break down. The most noticeable sign of allergic reaction to the bite is marked drowsiness, accompanied by headache and extreme muscle fatigue.

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