A spider bite with pus is indicative of an infection that requires immediate treatment. Spiders carry the highest risk of causing infections of all insects because their bites are the biggest. Slight infections with minimal clear pus can usually be treated at home with antiseptics as well as over-the-counter antibiotics. A spider bite with pus that is bloody and gets worse in time is indicative of a more serious infection, and you should consider seeing a doctor immediately. Certain types of spiders can also cause more serious symptoms than others, especially in young children.
Pus draining out of a spider bite is a sign that your body is trying to fight off an infection. A minor bite is usually red and swollen, which can sometimes be painful and itchy. Typical bites do not usually become infected unless the bite has been scratched or if your immune system did not respond adequately to the initial interference from the insect. In order to prevent a spider bite from becoming infected, it is important to wash the area and to avoid scratching it. You might also consider applying hydrocortisone cream to reduce itchiness as well as an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Once a spider bite becomes infected, it becomes larger and sometimes redder in color. The color of pus can range from clear to red, but the most minor infections tend to be on the lighter side. To treat a spider bite with pus, keep washing the area with soap periodically and apply an antiseptic solution afterwards. An antibiotic ointment will also help to reduce the infection, and the pus should dissipate within a few days of clearing.
Red and bloody pus is usually indicative of a more severe infection, although the drainage from the insect bite can reach this state if you continue to scratch at the irritated area. A spider bite that fails to improve within a few days should be addressed with a doctor so that you can obtain a prescription-strength antibiotic in order to clear up the infection. The bite might take some time to improve, but it should never worsen if you are undergoing the proper treatment method.
Children who experience spider bites should be closely monitored by parents, as youth are more prone to infections. One typical sign of an infection in young children are numerous red streaks around a spider bite with pus, accompanied by a high fever. Brown recluse and black widow spiders are two of the most dangerous types of insects to humans because they can cause infections and possible fatalities through their bites.