Most spiders in New Zealand are harmless, but there are three whose bites can be painful and may lead to severe reactions. The ones to be wary of are the katipo, redback and white-tailed spiders.
1. Redback and katipo spiders are dark brown with either a red (redback) or orange (katipo) mark on their back. A bite can lead to pain and redness and you may start to sweat. The pain may develop into crushing chest pain or abdominal pain. If this happens, go to A&E straight away.
2. White-tailed spiders don’t usually cause problems, but a bite can sometimes lead to an ulcer or necrosis.
3. Localised pain can last for several hours and mild swelling may last for a couple of days.
4. Ice compresses can reduce swelling, and paracetamol might help with pain. Don’t give aspirin to anyone aged under 18, as it can lead to Reye’s syndrome.
- Call 111 if there is swelling around the lips and eyes, a rash, shortness of breath or dizziness. It may be a severe allergic reaction.
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