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Shine Magazine

Spider bite

Main symptoms:

Bite from a spider seen on the skin.
Onset of bite symptoms (redness, pain, swelling) and a spider is seen in close proximity.

Types of spider bites:

1. Black Widow spider bite: A shiny, jet-black spider with long legs (total size 1 inch). A red (or orange) hourglass-shaped marking on its under-side. Causes immediate local mild pain, swelling and occasionally two fang marks. Severe muscle cramps are present by one to six hours, and last 24 to 48 hours. Rarely causes death (exception: bitten by several spiders or small child is bitten). Note: Many are dry bites because the fangs are small.

2. Brown Recluse spider bite: A brown spider with long legs (total size 1/2 inch). A dark violin-shaped marking on top of its head. Causes local pain and delayed blister formation in four to eight hours. The center becomes bluish and depressed (crater-like) over two to three days. Skin damage may require skin grafting in 10 percent of cases. Systemic symptoms such as fever, vomiting, myalgias (pain in muscle or muscles) can occur (but not life-threatening symptoms).

3. Non-dangerous spider bites: More than 50 spiders in the U.S. have venom and can cause local, non-serious reactions. The bites are painful and mildly swollen for one or two days (much like a bee sting). Most single, unexplained, tender bites that occur during the night are due to spiders.

Call 911 now (your child may need an ambulance) if:

Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Call your doctor now (night or day) if:

Your child looks or acts very sick.
Any black widow spider bite. First aid for Black Widow spider bites: Apply an ice cube or ice pack to the bite for 20 minutes to reduce the spread of the venom (no tourniquet).
Abdominal pain, chest tightness or other muscle cramps.
Bite pain is severe.
Bite looks infected (red streaking from the bite area, yellow drainage). Note: infection doesn't start until at least 24-48 hours after the bite. Any redness in the first 24 hours is due to venom.

Call your doctor within 24 hours (during office hours) if:

You think your child needs to be seen.
Bite starts to look bad (e.g. skin damage, blister or purplish - not just swelling).
Bite pain persists for more than two days.

Call your doctor during office hours if:

You have other questions or concerns.

Parent care at home if:

Non-serious spider bite and you don't think your child needs to be seen.

Home care advice for non-dangerous spider bites:

1. Cleansing: Wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water.

2. Meat tenderizer: Rub the bite area with a cotton ball soaked in a meat tenderizer solution for 20 minutes (Exception: avoid if near the eye). If not available, apply an ice cube for 20 minutes.

3. Pain medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen as needed for pain.

4. Expected course: Some swelling and pain for one to two days. It shouldn't be any worse than a bee sting.

Call your doctor if:

Severe bite pain persists for more than two hours after pain medicine.
Abdominal pains or muscle spasms occur.
Local pain lasts more than two days (48 hours).
Bite begins to look infected.
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.