How to Treat a Spider Bite

Guide Note

Most people cringe at the thought of being near a spider, let alone being bitten by one. Although death is rare, learning how to treat a spider bite is important if you want to avoid medical complications. Unfortunately, only Spider-Man gets any benefits from spider bites these days.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Is it a Spider Bite?
• Is the Spider Poisonous?
• Black Widow Spiders
• Brown Recluse Spiders
• Treating Poisonous Spider Bites
• Treating Nonpoisonous Spider Bites
• Conclusion
• References

Spider Bite Tips

1. Don't panic.
2. Try to identify the spider.
3. Don't attempt to suck out the venom.
4. Spider bites are rarely fatal.
5. Children and the elderly are more at risk.
6. When in doubt, seek medical attention.
7. In rare cases, anaphylactic shock can result from a spider bite.

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

(CC photo by J Reijn)

• Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, might seem like an irrational fear to some, but spider bites can be very serious. Before you start to panic, realize that spiders are not even close to being the deadliest animal in the United States. A Wilderness Medical Society study showed that distinction lies with horses, deer and cows. Even dogs are more deadly than spiders.¹ In fact, Children's Hospital Boston states that less than three people die from spider bites each year.² Despite spider bites rarely being deadly, they can be medically serious. That is why you need to know what to do when you think you have been bitten by a spider.

Is it a Spider Bite?

(Creative Commons photo by Richard Moross)

• In a national study, only 20% of suspected spider bites were actually caused by a spider.³ Unfortunately, unless you saw the spider or are able to catch it, it can be almost impossible to know for sure if you were bitten by a spider. Look at the wound. Do you see two tiny puncture holes close together?⁴ If so, you were probably bitten by a spider.

• If possible, try to find and catch the spider that bit you. Place it in a sealed container and take it with you to the emergency room. Do not touch it with your bare hands. However, do not delay seeking medical treatment to catch the spider if you start to show symptoms.

Is the Spider Poisonous?

(Creative Commons photo by Paul Sapiano)

• While over 30,000 species of spiders exist in the United States, the American Academy of Family Physicians notes that only two types pose a significant medical threat: the brown recluse and the black widow.⁵ While these two spiders vary considerably, you should seek medical treatment if you suspect you have been bitten by one.

• A few other spiders are considered "medically significant" but not considered overly dangerous, according to Children's Hospital Boston. They include the orb weaver, garden spider, trap door spider, gnaphosid spider (mouse spider), parson spider, huntsman spider, running spider, wolf spider, crab spider, orb weaver (barn spider), green lynx spider, jumping spider, false black widow spider and trap door spider.² These spiders can leave a painful bite and cause some illnesses, especially in children and older people, but are not as severe as the black widow and the brown recluse. In most cases, medical treatment is not necessary.

Black Widow Spiders

• The "black widow spider" is not one species but several species of spider found in the United States.

1. Black widow spiders are most commonly recognized by the red or orange hourglass shape on their abdomen. However, the marking does not always have a clearly defined hourglass shape; sometimes it appears only as a dot.⁶
2. Black widow spiders are not always black, either. Sometimes they are dark gray.
3. Black widows are small, about 1/2-inch long.
4. Their bite contains neurotoxic venom.⁷

Symptoms of a Black Widow Spider Bite

• The symptoms of a black widow spider bite will usually begin with 20 minutes.⁸

• eMedicineHealth lists that the symptoms include: pain, burning, swelling or redness around the bite; severe muscle cramps or muscle rigidity; abdominal pain; weakness or tremors especially in the legs; nausea; vomiting; rash; dizziness or feeling faint; headache; restlessness and anxiety; sweating; eyelid swelling and tearing of the eyes; chest pain; and respiratory difficulties.

Brown Recluse Spiders

• Brown recluse spiders are also known as the fiddleback spider, brown fiddler or violin spider.

1. Brown recluse spiders are found in the southern two-thirds and eastern three-fourths of the United States.⁹
2. They are approximately 1/2-inch long.
3. They usually, but not always, have a shape on their back that looks like a violin.

Symptoms of a Brown Recluse Spider Bite

• The symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite usually appear slower than that of a black widow, but usually appear within four hours.¹⁰

• The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that these symptoms include: burning, pain, itching or redness around the bite; headaches; body aches; muscle pain; rash; fever; nausea; vomiting; blistering which may turn black; and a deep blue or purple area around the bite surrounded by a whitish ring and large red outer ring.¹¹

Treating Poisonous Spider Bites

(Creative Commons photo by Ben Collins)

• Although the symptoms of the brown recluse and black widow spiders are different, the initial treatment will be the same.¹² The University of Maryland Medical Center advises you to:¹¹

1. Wash the area with soap and water.
2. Apply ice or a cold washcloth to the area.
3. Apply an antibiotic lotion or cream.
4. Give acetaminophen, if necessary for pain.
5. For brown recluse bites, elevate the site of the bite if possible.
6. Seek immediate emergency treatment.

Medical Treatments

• The University of Maryland Medical Center notes you should seek medical care. At the hospital or doctor's office, the bite will be evaluated to see if additional medical treatment is necessary.

1. For black widow bites, antivenin may be administered.
2. For brown recluse bites, treatment can include corticosteroids or surgery of the bite area.¹¹
3. In both cases, hospitalization may be necessary.

Treating Nonpoisonous Spider Bites

(Creative Commons photo by Felix Francis)

• How your body reacts to the bite can be an indication of what type of spider it was. Nonpoisonous spider bites typically show swelling, redness, pain and itching. In these cases, you can treat the bite the same way you would treat any other insect bite.¹² KidsHealth.org's instructions say to:

1. Clean the wound.
2. Apply ice or a cold washcloth.
3. Apply calamine lotion, baking soda paste or over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment.
4. Make sure your tetanus shot is current.

• According to WebMD, one of the biggest risks of spider bites can be anaphylactic shock. Symptoms usually begin with breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Swelling of the lips, tongue, ears, eyelids, palms of the hands and soles of the feet may also occur.¹³ If any of these symptoms occur, call 911 immediately.

Conclusion

• While a fear of spiders might seem irrational, a fear of spider bites is not. Properly treating the bite and seeking medical attention when necessary is essential to avoid permanent physical damage. Only in the movies will a spider bite do you any good. Luckily, spiders rarely bite unless threatened and are usually more afraid of you than you are of them.

References for How to Treat a Spider Bite

1. ↑ KNBC: Deer Among 10 Deadliest Animals In United States
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Children's Hospital Boston: Spider Bites
3. ↑ Ohio State University: Spider Bites
4. ↑ Ohio State University: What to do if You Suspect a Spider Bite
5. ↑ American Academy of Family Physicians: Common Spider Bites
6. ↑ Fumapest Group: USA Spider Identification Chart
7. ↑ eMedicine: Black Widow Spider Bite
8. ↑ eMedicineHealth: Black Widow Spider Bite
9. ↑ Wikipedia: Australasian Funnel-Web Spider
10. ↑ eMedicineHealth: Spider Bite: Brown Recluse Spider Bite
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} University of Maryland Medical Center: First Aid
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} KidsHealth.org: Spider Bites
13. ↑ WebMD: Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites

How to Treat a Spider Bite Videos

• Video: Black Widow Spider (Time: 0:48)
• Video: Brown Recluse (Time: 1:14)