Does swelling & redness point toward spider bite? - Dr. Nischal K

Swelling and redness does not always means a spider bite. Swelling and redness only pints towards an inflammation. So it can be because of an insect bite, or it can be because of trauma. You can get a pain prick and get Swelling and redness or it could be a simple small folliculitis or a boil. So any of these things can give riser to Swelling and redness. History of people travelling outside, staying outside or giving a history of something that is seen biting them, then inn those situations, it is because of an insect. An insect can be anything like a mosquito, spider, snake bite, mite, anything it can be. Any bite can give swelling and redness. Spider bites in India are nonpoisonous in India. However we do come across poisonous spider bites. The commonest thing is the black widow spider. Sometimes these spider bites can be very fatal and it requires immediate antidote management and supportive care. If it is a simple bite, then application of ice cubes will reduce the inflammation and talking an anlagesics. However these toxins may be cardiotoxic and neurotoxic and hence they needs primary health care intervention immediately after they come with a spider bite. So immediately we have to monitor their blood pressure, heart rate and pulse. If there is any variation in this, it is treated in an intensive care unit.