The general clinical features of a spider bite are local pain, with some swelling and pruritus, which is an intense feeling of itchiness; nausea, vomiting, sweating and dizziness. Sometimes the person who has been bitten may experience a severe allergic reaction, which can be life threatening, but luckily this is rare.
There are more than 34,000 different species of spiders in the world and the majority of them are fanged and venomous. Luckily, less than 0.5 per cent of them are actually able to penetrate human skin, and of those that can, there are only a few that are thought to be dangerous.
The majority of spiders are more frightened of us than we are of them (difficult as this seem to some people) and are not naturally aggressive. This means that the likelihood of being bitten by a spider is even more reduced because they tend to only bite if they feel threatened or they are trapped.
Tarantulas have an additional defense as well as biting, though many people who have experienced this do think that they have been bitten. They can flick fine, barbed abdominal hairs using their legs. If you have experienced this, you could suffer from significant irritation to your eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Although a spider bite can be scary, it is reassuring to know that more than 80 per cent of them are either 'dry', which means no venom, or there is insufficient venom in the bite to make it dangerous.
Many people have an irrational fear of spiders and will either run away from them in terror or lash out at them and kill them. This mindless cruelty is unnecessary, but luckily, the old adage, 'if you wish to live and thrive, let a spider run alive', is a deterrent against some of the slaughter!
There are more than 34,000 different species of spiders in the world and the majority of them are fanged and venomous. Luckily, less than 0.5 per cent of them are actually able to penetrate human skin, and of those that can, there are only a few that are thought to be dangerous.
The majority of spiders are more frightened of us than we are of them (difficult as this seem to some people) and are not naturally aggressive. This means that the likelihood of being bitten by a spider is even more reduced because they tend to only bite if they feel threatened or they are trapped.
Tarantulas have an additional defense as well as biting, though many people who have experienced this do think that they have been bitten. They can flick fine, barbed abdominal hairs using their legs. If you have experienced this, you could suffer from significant irritation to your eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Although a spider bite can be scary, it is reassuring to know that more than 80 per cent of them are either 'dry', which means no venom, or there is insufficient venom in the bite to make it dangerous.
Many people have an irrational fear of spiders and will either run away from them in terror or lash out at them and kill them. This mindless cruelty is unnecessary, but luckily, the old adage, 'if you wish to live and thrive, let a spider run alive', is a deterrent against some of the slaughter!
