Spiders (HB)

Spiders do not bite people in an attempt to consume them as prey–they bite because they have been threatened–it is a purely defensive action.

The two main spiders people are concerned about within North America are the black widow and the brown recluse.  Black widows are found in warmer regions and generally in the south.

Brown recluses are only found in the south-central US–they are not very aggressive and chances are you will rarely encounter them.  Bites from a recluse are exceptionally rare–more likely the bite is from a similar type of spider, or the bite has merely become infected.

Prevention

You can generally prevent spider bites by not blindly reaching into dark spaces (under pipes, into tree stumps or woodpiles, etc.).  If you must do those things, wear gloves.  You should also check out your sleeping bag before getting in, and check your boots before putting them on.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms will vary based on the type of spider. Some spider bites are painful immediately, and some you may not notice for days.  Some spider bites will cause tissue destruction but this will occur several days after the bite–at that point, treat what you see.

Black widow bites may cause hypertension in the patient.

Treatment

Treat the symptoms your patient has.  If there is a soft tissue injury, clean it.  If they are having an allergic reaction, treat it as an allergy.  If the patient is showing signs of respiratory distress or changes to mental status evacuate them to care.