An Ounce of Prevention: "Miss Muffet Was Frightened, Too!"

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July 31, 2007	A Publication of QVHD

Miss Muffet Was Frightened, Too!

By: V. Deborah Culligan, RN, MPH,
Deputy Director QVHD

Spiders probably rank among the "least" favorite insects. Many people are afraid of spiders. Yet despite their sinister reputation, spiders are an insect with a very important beneficial ecological role. Spiders are predators which are on the constant lookout for food. Their favorite food is not the human being, but rather it is other insects. Many spiders are actually "shy" and will only bite a human if provoked. (For example, they get trapped between your body and clothes.)

Although not common, bites from spiders do occur. Physical reactions to bites can vary quite a bit and are dependent on the type of spider, the person's biochemical makeup, and their general physical condition. Underlying illnesses, such as heart disease or hypertension, may be aggravated by the physical stress of the bite.

Most spider bites do not lead to death. However, they are often painful. Initially, the bite may appear as a swollen red lesion, or may have a darkened central core, surrounded by a "black and blue" type area. It may increase in size over time. If you know you have been bitten by a spider, contact a doctor if it seems to be getting worse. If you capture it (and save it in alcohol), this can be very useful for prescribing treatment. (Even crushed spiders can be identified.) Your doctor can submit a spider that has caused tissue damage (known as necrosis) to The CT Agriculture Station, 123 Huntington St., New Haven 06512, phone number 789-7241, for identification.

Of more than 450 types of spiders in Connecticut, few are deadly. An occasional Black Widow has been identified. The Brown Recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) has been suspected to have appeared in Connecticut. The Brown Recluse is not indigenous to this area and can't survive our cold winters if outdoors. However, it can arrive into homes via packages from warmer climates and survive indoors. The Chiracantheum mildei is a common spider found in Connecticut that can cause dark (necrotic) lesions on the skin.

There are some housekeeping measures you can take to decrease your chances of being bitten. First of all, you can rid corners of webs. Secondly, since spiders will often bite if they get trapped between your body and clothing or bed clothing, shake out such items if they have had contact with the floor. Other strategies include: use gloves when going through boxes of stored papers or clothing, kept in closets or other dark places; vacuum corners of bedrooms and baseboards frequently; freeze boxes of goods or paper (for 48 Hours) suspected of containing brown recluse spiders.

For more information on spiders, call the CT Agricultural Station, (203) 789-7241, or the CT Poison Control Center 1-800-343-2722, District residents (Hamden, North Haven and Woodbridge) can call QVHD, 203.248.4528. Or you can request information online or through email, dculligan@qvhd.org

An Ounce of Prevention is a publication of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, located at 1151 Hartford Turnpike, North Haven, CT 06473. Telephone: 248-4528. An Ounce of Prevention is written by V. Deborah Culligan. The articles are published in the following local newspapers, The Advisor & Beth-Wood News.
The content is provided as health education and information to help you make health decisions. It is not intended to be legal or medical advice, or substitute for recommendations made by your health care provider. Address all comments to the district office.


Quinnipiack Valley Health District 1151 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473	Phone. (203)248-4528 Fax. (203)248-6671 E-Mail. info@qvhd.org

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