Spider Bites

About 60 species of spiders in North America can bite a human. Fortunately, only a few species can cause significant poisonings. Death rarely occurs. However, bites from the black widow and brown recluse spiders have been known to cause death.

Brown Recluse: violin-shaped marking on the back helps to identify it. Both the male and female are dangerous. It is rare to see the brown recluse spider when it bites because the bite is painless.

Black Widow: The body of the female black widow is shaped like an hourglass. She is a dark color with red or yellow on the abdomen. Only the female is dangerous. The male is too small to bite through human skin.

The bite itself may be felt as a pin-prick. Black widow spider venom is very potent. It attacks the muscles in humans. Symptoms are often severe muscle pain and cramping.

If you suspect a bite:

1-Clean the Bite with soap and water

2- Cold pack for the pain and swelling (no longer than 20 minutes)

3- Administer pain meds such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen

4- Call your healthcare provider if you see any of these symptoms:

Severe bite pain lasts more than 2 hours after pain medicine

Stomach pains or muscle cramps occur

Bite pain lasts more than 2 days (48 hours)

Bite starts to look infected

Pain moves to the abdomen, back, chest, and legs

Blister at the bite site

Mild swelling and a blue-gray mark at the bite surrounded by lightening of skin color

Progressive soft tissue damage; the skin becomes dark blue and then black (necrotic)