As a child I recall frequently waking up with a big red bump on my face and my mother would always say, "You must have been bitten by a spider". But, despite popular belief, spiders do not frequently bite humans. The majority of spiders are non aggressive and will only bite when threatened i.e.: accidentally stepped on or pressed against the skin in the unfortunate event that the critter gets into your clothing or bedding. When provoked a spider will give a warning bite, often without venom. Even though most spiders do have some type of venom, the majority are not poisonous. Only two types of spiders in the U.S. have been identified as poisonous: the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. These spiders prefer warm, dry climates and prefer dark secluded areas such as basements, closets and woodpiles.

There are, however, a handful of spiders that, although non-poisonous, deliver a painful bite; these include the wolf spider, the jumping spider, and the garden spider. If you believe you have been bitten by a spider contact your physician. Some individuals develop allergic reactions to any type of insect or spider bite requiring immediate medical attention. Case in fact: my daughter. When my daughter was 5 years old she was bitten by a spider while camping. The bite was on her inner thigh - a small red bump with radiating swelling approximately seven inches in diameter. She developed a fever shortly after we discovered the bite and I immediately took her to the emergency room where they applied an antibiotic ointment to the bite and administered benedryl to alleviate the swelling. She had mild pain and throbbing at the site for the remainder of the day and the swelling took about 8 hours to subside. She was also put on an antibiotic to stave off infection. Although we were not able to locate the culprit - it probably bit her some time during the night; her doctor did believe it was a spider bite due to the severity of the reaction. Specific treatment for any spider bite will be determined by your physician. If you believe you have been bitten, follow these first aid tips until you can seek professional help:

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply an ice pack or cold, wet washcloth to the bite.
• Elevate the area of the bite in order to prevent spread of venom throughout the body.
• To protect against infection, especially in children or the elderly, apply antibiotic ointment.
• Use pain relief medication such as acetaminophen.
• Do not rub or scratch the wound - this will only spread the venom further.

Always seek professional medical help immediately if you are not sure what type of insect/spider bit you. A small bite that seems insignificant can change very quickly.

This article is written for informational purposes only and it should not be construed as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. The information provided herein is of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your physician before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen.