With temperatures slowly dropping over the next few weeks, more of us will see spiders coming in from the cold to keep warm and breed – so St John Ambulance is issuing advice over what to do if bitten.
While spider bite reactions are typically mild and can usually be managed at home, in recent years there has been a rise in False Widow spiders, which bite, and though not particularly venomous, its bite can feel like a wasp sting.
More rarely, bites can be severe, causing intense swelling and irritation, and an allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, can develop in just seconds and can affect the whole body. If not treated quickly enough, it can be fatal.
Steve Hatton, paramedic and Head of Clinical Operations at St John Ambulance is urging people with known allergies to bites and stings, to be prepared by ensuring their home first aid kits are stocked with an epi-pen (if already prescribed) or antihistamines.
He said, “Essentially, for most, spider bites (of the UK variety) are nothing more than an irritation. However, in rare cases, a person will have a more serious anaphylactic reaction due to an allergy to the spider venom rather than the actual potency of spider venom (much like a bee or wasp sting). Others may later develop secondary complications such as infection of the surrounding skin (cellulitis) which is more to do with bacteria – normally found on the skin –entering where the bite is, or because of scratching the itchy skin, creating a route for infection.”