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Arachnid bites cause pain, redness and swelling. Spiders are found everywhere except in the polar regions, and the smallest of them are about 1 mm long, the body of the largest ones is 9 cm long. In southern Europe and in countries with hot climates live species of poisonous spiders.
Arachnid bites – types of spiders
One of the most poisonous spiders is the so-called black Widow – karakurt inhabiting the Mediterranean and Arab countries and the steppes of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. It is characterized by a black color of the body with characteristic red spots. A sting by a female, which is slightly larger than the male, causes a slight illness in humans, a feeling of general discomfort, which passes after three or four days.
Only in a few cases is a stab from a black widow causing death.
In horned cattle, however, the prick is always fatal.
It used to be believed that it was a very dangerous spider Italian tarantula, living in dry, steppe regions of Europe and Asia Minor. The female’s body is more than 2,5 cm long. It turned out that the sting of a tarantula not only does not cause death, but is completely harmless to humans.
- Find out what poisonous spiders are found in Poland
There are numerous and dangerous spiders in Brazil, the bite of which may have a haemolytic or neurotoxic effect. Some of these poisonous spiders can travel to Europe with imported goods (e.g. tarantula spider – known to banana growers). In countries where poisonous spiders are present, sera against venomous spiders are also available.
Arachnid bites – symptoms
The bites of spiders found in Poland are usually harmless and there is no need to panic. How can you tell if you have been bitten by a spider? Contrary to appearances, it is easy – just take a good look. After the bite, a characteristic mark remains on the skin – two small dots next to each other, approximately 1-2 mm apart. There is also redness and swelling similar to that of a mosquito bite. The skin around the bite is irritated and swollen, and the patient complains of pain.
Itching is also a common symptom; bites in the face and bites of young children or severe allergic reactions can be dangerous. The site of the spider’s bite may also be a gateway for the entry of other microorganisms. Therefore, it is worth to immediately apply MUGGA soothing balm for bites and burns with a soothing and cooling effect. We also recommend Propolia BeeYes BIO soothing propolis oil for stings and burns, which supports the regeneration of the epidermis and has antiseptic properties.
The procedure after the bite consists in decontaminating the bite site, applying cold compresses, antihistamine or anti-itching ointments. We recommend, for example, birch liniment with sea buckthorn for atopy, which has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
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