virtual First aid kit

Just another site

Animal Bites

by

Spider:

Symptoms:

  • Black widow
    • Slight swelling and faint red marks
    • Intense pain and stiffness
    • Severe abdominal pain or cramping
    • Chills, fever and nausea
  • Brown recluse:
    • Mild pain at first
    • Redness and intense pain
    • Deep blue or purple area around the bite, may develop red ring around it
  • Most spiders
    • Minor swelling
    • Inflammation
    • Itching
    • White ring around bite

Causes:

  • Spiders are provoked

Treatment:

  • Black widow:
    • Wash wound with soap and water
    • Apply antibiotic cream and cover with bandage
    • Apply ice pack
    • Elevation is bite is on arm or leg
    • Seek medical attention immediately
    • Antivenin
  • Brown recluse
    • Antivenin
    • Clean wound and cover with bandage
    • Apply cold compress
    • Elevate the area of bite
  • Most spiders
    • Pain relievers and antihistamines as needed

When to see a Doctor

  • Bitten by black widow or brown recluse spider
  • Unsure if bite was from poisonous spider
  • Severe pain, abdominal cramping or growing ulcer at bite site
  • Person who is bitten is not breathing

 

Snakes: 

Symptoms:

  • Two puncture wounds
  • Sharp throbbing pain at site of bite
  • Redness, swelling, damaged tissue at site of bite
  • Abnormal blood clotting and bleeding
  • Low blood pressure and shock
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased production of saliva
  • Heavy sweating
  • Numb in face or limbs

Causes:

  • Snakes are provoked or feel threatened

Treatment:

  • Remove jewelry and watches before swelling occurs
  • Area of bite is kept below level of the heart
  • Remain still and calm
  • Cover bite with loose bandage
  • Antivenoms

When to see a doctor:

  • As soon as possible after being bitten by a snake so proper antivenom can be administered

 

Bugs: 

Symptoms:

  • Redness
  • Itching
  • Stinging
  • Minor swelling

Causes:

  • Insect bite

Treatments:

  • Move to safe area to avoid more bites
  • Remove stinger if needed
  • Wash area with soap and water
  • Apply cool compress
  • If bite is on arm or leg, elevate it
  • Antihistamine to reduce itching
  • Apply hydrocortisone, calamine lotion or baking soda paste to bite

When to see a doctor:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of lips, eyelids or throat
  • Dizziness, faintness or confusion
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Hives
  • Nausea, cramps or vomiting

 

Ticks:

Symptoms:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Sore on skin

Causes:

  • Tick bite

Treatments:

  • Remove tick promptly and carefully (use tweezers)
  • Wash your hands and the bite site with water and soap
  • Antibiotics if bitten by deer tick

When to see a doctor:

  • Cannot remove tick
  • Rash gets bigger
  • Develop flu-like symptoms
  • Bite site is infected
  • Bitten by a deer tick
  • Call 911
    • Severe headache
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Paralysis
    • Heart palpitations