If creepy-crawly spiders scare you, getting bit by them is a whole new level of horror. Contrary to what you see on TV, you don’t get superpowers when you get bit by a specific type of spider. In fact, it can be quite dangerous!
While most bites are harmless, others can cause symptoms that can be pretty alarming…
1. Pain and Swelling
A spider bite is typically painful, and it tends to become swollen and irritated around the affected area. This redness can spread to other parts of the body or even form into welts, rashes, or blisters. Some cases also report itching or numbing.
That pain can go further down south…
2. Abdominal Cramping
Some insect bites like that of spiders can cause abdominal cramping that lasts for up to 6 hours. The intensity of these flareups can sometimes make one think they’re suffering abdominal conditions like appendicitis or pancreatitis.
Spider bites can also leave you shaking and not in a good way…
3. Tremors
A study published in the Revista Ecuatoriana de Neurologia says that spider bites can cause several neurological complications. As a result, a patient might experience occasional shaking or tremors.
Here’s another neurological problem to look out for…
4. Muscle Problems
Spider bites can affect the muscles too. Painful neurological complications like muscle twitching (myalgia), poor body coordination (ataxia), and a “pins and needles” sensation in the limbs (paresthesias) are common among patients.
If you break too much sweat, that can also be an issue…
5. Heavy Sweating
An analysis made by Albanian researchers found that as the spider venom affects the nervous system, the body starts to sweat profusely. More than half of spider bite victims have experienced intense sweating 30 minutes to an hour after getting bit.
Enjoying fresh air and good food becomes strained…
6. Breathing/Swallowing Problems
Bites from the brown recluse, black widow, and hobo spiders are considered more dangerous and can cause severe problems like strained breathing, chewing, swallowing, and to an extent—speaking.
Things can start to get hazy as time goes on…
7. Blurred Eyesight
Bites from black widow and brown recluse spiders can significantly affect a person’s vision. The venom may cause the eyesight to go blurry within minutes, and in some cases, the eyelids become swollen and droopy.
If the blurry vision was bad enough, it makes you prone to…
8. Lightheadedness
Apart from abdominal pain, spider bites can also make one experience headaches, nauseousness, and eventual vomiting. These symptoms may last for three days or up until the venom is eliminated from the body.
But while the venmon is inside you, it can cause severe damage…
9. Blood Vessels Problems
The brown recluse‘s venom can severely damage the blood vessels and cause the bite area tissue to deteriorate and die (necrosis). On rare occasions, blood clots may occur, which may lead to profuse bleeding and even death.
Eventually, it can turn up the heat…
10. Fever
Most spider bites can leave a person experiencing some flu-like symptoms like fevers, nausea, and vomiting within a couple of hours of getting bit. If these worsen, seek immediate medical attention to avoid further complications.
