Mosquitoes, bedbugs and spiders – just a few of the insects that can inflict bites on humans. In most cases, these bites are harmless and cause little more than minor skin irritation.
Mosquito bites are generally mild, and cause symptoms such as redness, swelling and itching. The bites are generally harmless unless the mosquito is carrying organisms that can cause Malaria or West Nile Virus, both of which can spread viral diseases.
Bedbug bites look similar to mosquito bites, but will often appear in a specific pattern that consists of 3 or 4 bites in a linear row. The symptoms of redness, swelling and itching may not show up until several days after the bite.
Spider bites are less common and are often mistaken for bites caused by other insects. Only a handful of spiders have fangs that are strong enough to pierce the skin. Typically, spider bites are similar in appearance to other insect bites. However, certain types of spiders, such as the black widow and brown recluse carry stronger venom that can cause toxic reactions. Sometimes reactions cause fever, swollen glands and joint pain. In some cases, a life threatening allergic reaction may occur.