WHAT DOES A CAMEL SPIDER LOOK LIKE?
You will be amazed to know that camel spider, as the name suggests in not a spider at all. It is an arachnid in the order Solifugae which means “those who run away from the sun”. This large, brown, hairy and fierce spider like animal is very dangerous and is also well known by the names- Jerrymugium, Sun Spider, Sand Spider, Sun Scorpion and the Wind Spider.
The length of this creature is not fixed and varies across species, ranging from 0.5 inches up to 6 inches. Its abdomen is divided into segments and long hair that shines in the sun covers its long legs. The most striking and dangerous part of this spider’s body is its sharp plier like jaws which are used to crush and chew their prey.
WHERE CAN CAMEL SPIDERS BE FOUND?
Camel spiders are usually found in deserts around the world. They are averse from sunlight and during the day time, hide themselves under the rocks or bury themselves in the soil or sand to protect their body from the day time heat. Camel spiders are night creatures and are active after dusk.
CAMEL SPIDER BITE SYMPTOMS
A camel spider attacks a human only if it feels threatened. Its bite is not poisonous and normally leaves a severely fierce looking wound at the area of the bite. If you are sure that you have been bitten by a camel spider, then you must have one or more camel spider bite symptoms mentioned below:
Acute pain
A camel spider bite results in severe stinging pain due to the creature’s jaws which look like a crab’s pincers.
Swelling and Redness
Trauma to the surrounding tissues results in inflammation and redness of the skin surrounding the wound. This inflammation is a normal response of the human body to the spider’s bite.
Bleeding
Depending on the severity of the bite, extent of attack, size of the spider and area of the body that has been attacked, mild to profuse bleeding may occur.
In some cases, camel spider bite symptoms become worse due to other underlying medical conditions or allergic reactions. It is better to visit a doctor immediately in such cases as immediate medical attention will be required.
CAMEL SPIDER BITE TREATMENT
Since camel spider bites are non-venomous in nature, it can be treated at home without immediate medical intervention from the doctors. In case the affected person has other medical conditions like diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid or allergies, then it is best to consult a doctor and seek medical treatment to avoid infection.
The below treatment or first aid steps can be followed immediately after a camel spider bite:
- The very first and most important step is sanitizing the wounded area. Wash it with mild soap, saline solution or an anti- bacterial disinfectant.
- Once the wound is thoroughly cleaned, dry it so that no water is left.
- Carefully apply an antibiotic cream and leave the wound for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Once the cream begins to dry, cover the area of the bite with a band aid or bandage. Avoid placing cotton as it will stick to the cream covering the wound and can result in infection.
- Once the bandage is on, ensure that you change it regularly to avoid staph and other bacterial infections. In case you develop symptoms like vomiting and fever after few days, rush to a doctor and seek medical treatment to treat the infection which in some cases can become life threatening.
- To reduce inflammation and redness around the wound, you can apply ice packs and ice compressions ten minutes every day. It will numb the area around the wound and decrease pain and inflammation.
If you follow the mentioned steps carefully, your camel spider bite will completely heal in a couple of weeks. In case of other complications, your doctor may advice cleaning of the wound, scraping off the area of the bite, tetanus injections and strong antibiotic course for a few weeks.
Reference Links:
http://spiderbites.net/camel-spider-bite
http://www.badspiderbites.com/camel-spider/
http://healthool.com/camel-spider-bite/
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