How to Tell the Difference of a Spider or Deer Tick Bite

Most bites from spiders and deer ticks are harmless, but some bites received from extremely venomous spiders or infected ticks can result in Lyme disease and other harmful symptoms. If you are unsure of whether the bite you received is from a deer tick or spider, there are a few things you can look for. No matter what caused the bite, if you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or notice blistering or skin deterioration, you should seek medical attention. You may also want to get checked for Lyme disease by a physician in the case of a tick bite.

Consider what brought the bite to your attention -- what made you notice it. Deer tick bites are relatively small, and many victims don't notice the bite until an onset of symptoms has occurred, which can begin days after the bite. Spider bites can vary in size. Many victims who do suffer symptoms from spider bites will begin to notice symptoms such as redness and irritation almost immediately.

Various Stages of Spider Bites

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Assess the level of pain. Most of the time, deer tick bites are painless. Any pain will result from the onset of Lyme disease, which can take months to set in. Spider bites, on the other hand, can be painful or painless. If you're experiencing pain from a bite you received hours ago, it is very likely a bite from a venomous spider, such as a brown recluse or black widow.

Look at the bite. Deer tick bites are very small and hard to see, but they can have a bulls-eye appearance -- a bright red outer ring surrounding a clear area on the skin. The bite of a black widow will sometimes result in double-fang marks at the bite location. Spider bites can often become red and swollen.

Signs & Symptoms of an Infected Spider Bite

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Judge your symptoms. Tick bites can often result in Lyme disease. Associated symptoms include a rash, fatigue, joint pain, flu-like symptoms, and later stages of the disease will result in inflammation of the heart muscle and issues with the central nervous system. Spider bites from venomous spiders can result in irritation, swelling, burning, a fluid-filled blister on the skin, the deterioration of the skin and flu-like symptoms