How can I tell the difference between a spider bite and a mosquito bite?

Question

This weekend I stayed at my parents, and when I got home, I found 4 bites on me. I assumed they were mosquito bites, although I really didnt spend any time outside. They itch like CRAZY even after I put cream on them.

Yesterday I realized that they could be spider bites, because I have found spiders in the bed I sleep in at my parents'

Today I noticed that two of the bites have what I can only describe as holes. It's a single hole in each bite, and the bites are big and red. 2 of them seem to me bigger then the average mosquito bite, but maybe I'm just being paranoid

also, I dont remember having mosquito bite itch this long and this much.

Are there any over-the counter things I can do? I really dont want to go to the doctor...

this isnt me, but its sort of what mine looks like:

http://polkadotstripe.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/spider_bite.JPG

its definitly not black, and if it is a spider bite, its not anything poisonous, because it's been a few days and i dont feel anything other then the cold i've had for awhile

Answer 1

I live on the gulf coast of Texas, so I know a thing or two about mosquitoes and spiders. First all spiders are poisonous. Some just don't affect humans the way they do their prey. A mosquito bite will be red with a raised bump in the middle. If you don't scratch the bite too much the skin should not be broken. I don't ever recall ever seeing a hole in the skin from a mosquito bite. It is possible to have mosquitoes in the house without realizing it. They could have come in on someone or followed them into the house. They are small and if there aren't a lot of them, they are sometimes hard to see.

I am not very allergic to them and so I don't itch or swell very much. But my son is and he will get a hive about three inches from one bite and he itches very badly with them. I will open up a benadryl capsule and make a paste out of it with water, it seems to help with both the itching and the swelling.

If the bite in the picture looks like your bite and you are still having symptoms, go see your doctor. Mosquito bites shouldn't itch for more than a couple of days and there should never be an open spot unless you have scratched it so much as to have broken the skin and caused an infection.

Either way, spider bite, you did say that you woke up with spiders in the bed, or infected mosquito bite, you need to see a doctor to have appropriate care. My daughter receive a spider bite on her lower back once. We did not realize that she had been bitten until she started running a fever and vomiting. She ended up with an area of about a half an inch rotted out of her back before it was all over. Spider bites are nothing to fool around with.

Just a little added trivia: It is the female mosquitoes that bite. If you let the mosquito drink its fill and don't hit it, the bite is supposed to not itch as badly if any at all.

Good luck

Answer 2

Spider Or Mosquito Bite

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How can I tell the difference between a spider bite and a mosquito bite?
This weekend I stayed at my parents, and when I got home, I found 4 bites on me. I assumed they were mosquito bites, although I really didnt spend any time outside. They itch like CRAZY even after I put cream on them.

Yesterday I realized that they could be spider bites, because I have found...

Answer 4

every spider is different. if your arent dead or sick you should just take some pain killers like ibprophen or advil. Benadryl works well to take away the itch. I have had many large spider bites in my time some about the size of a golf ball and sometimes bigger. Usually spider bites hurt more than itch. Ive never had them turn black in the middle but a dark red. Unfortunately there are a lot of mosquitoes by my house now so ive been bit by those too and those seem to itch like crazy but are really small like the size of a skittle. If you get sick or have a fever go to the doctor, also if you are paranoid they can still checkit out for you

Answer 5

Most insect bites produce only minor irritation, with symptoms such as: Swelling at the site of the bite. Itching or burning. Local numbness or tingling. Bites of poisonous spiders and scorpions may produce these symptoms: Intense pain at the site of the wound. Stiffness or joint pain. Muscle spasms. Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. Fever or chills. Difficulty breathing or swallowing. A spreading, ulcerated wound, or tissue death. Dizziness, impaired speech, or convulsions. An insect or spider bite can also cause a potentially fatal allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock. Its symptoms include: Rapid swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or around the eyes. Difficulty breathing. Wheezing or hoarseness. Severe itching, cramping, or numbness. Dizziness. A reddish rash or hives. Stomach cramps. Loss of consciousness. Call Your Doctor About an Insect or Spider Bite If: You think you have been bitten by a poisonous spider or scorpion. You experience any of the symptoms of anaphylactic shock described above. This is a severe, possibly life-threatening condition. Call 911 or your emergency number immediately.

Answer 6

Every summer, my son gets a mosquito bite that turns ugly. Nothing turns black, but he could get a small infection in the middle, but the area around it swells huge (in width). It lasts about 3-4 days, but we are trying benedryl, calomine lotion, everything. He doesn't scratch it, just rubs it, but it gets huge (I am talking a few inches in width). It doesn't have a hole and looks like a regular mosquito bite for a day and then swells and swells until it gets better after attacking it with everything to take the itch and swelling out of it. Any suggestions?

Answer 7

They are probably spider bites. mosquito bites don't turn into holes. My ex told me that spider bites turn black in the middle though.......

Answer 8

ok spider bites will have two holes you might not be able to see both you might have to use a magnifing glass to see them. what kind of spiders were in the bed? that will determine if you need ot see a Dr.