Spider bite allergies: symptoms and treatments

Spider bites are as common as ant bites, but are they poisonous? Ouch! If you've ever suffered the pain of a spider bite you're not alone. Millions of Canadians get bitten by spiders each year and sometimes the effects are life-threatening. Some spider bites can cause nasty complications---and they may not be due to the bite itself. Complications can also be caused by spider allergies. Knowing whether you have a spider allergy can save you discomfort in the future.

There's really no way to tell, without medical intervention, whether you've been bitten by a poisonous spider or if you're having an allergic reaction to the spider bite. However, if you know your spiders, and you know for sure the spider isn't poisonous (like a house spider or dust spider) yet still experience uncomfortable symptoms, chances are that you have a spider allergy.

You can have an allergy test done to see if you have allergies to spiders, dust mites, roaches and other insects. The important thing here is to never self-diagnose.

Symptoms of a spider bite allergy usually start within minutes of being bitten, but they can also develop hours and even days later The symptoms usually start gradually, then rapidly build to levels that are so uncomfortable they'll send you rushing to the doctor. These are the most common symptoms of spider allergies:

• Itching in the area of the bite
• Rash developing around the bite (may appear as hives or a target pattern)
• Swelling on or around the bite
• Swollen eyes or lips (this happens in extreme cases)
• Throat or tongue swelling (caused by poison or anaphylaxis)
• Numbness or tingling
• Stiffness in joints
• Spasms or convulsions
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Tissue death
• Nausea and vomiting

Treatment for spider bite allergies varies depending on the type of spider and severity of the allergy, but it usually begins with a blood test identifying the type of bite. Next, you may receive intravenous antibiotics and fluids to help fight any infection present. If you're going into anaphylactic shock, you will receive a fast-acting histamine to counteract the reaction, and other life-saving treatments such as surgery or IV antihistamines and cortisone.

If you have the spider, do not throw it away. It will help your doctor identify whether your symptoms come from a severe kind of poison or just a reaction to the bite.