Spider Bite

Definition

• Bite from a spider

Call or Return If

• 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
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

About This Topic

Symptoms

• Redness, pain, swelling of the bite
• Helpful if spider seen on the skin or around the child

Types of Spider Bites

Minor Spider Bites That Are Not Dangerous

• More than 50 spiders in the U.S. have venom.
• Their bites can cause reactions that aren't serious. This includes pain or redness at the bite site.
• The bites are painful and swollen. This lasts for 1 or 2 days. They can feel and look like a bee sting.
• Some single, unexplained, tender bites that occur during the night are due to spiders.
• In the U.S., there are only 2 species of spiders that can cause serious reactions. They are the Black Widow spider and the Brown Recluse spider.

Black Widow Spider Bite

• A shiny, jet-black spider with long legs (total size 1 inch or 2.5 cm).
• A red (or orange) hourglass-shaped marking on its under-side.
• Causes immediate local pain and swelling.
• Sometimes, you can see 2 fang marks at the bite site.
• Severe muscle cramps (especially stomach cramps) occur within 1 to 6 hours. These 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.
• Treatment: Go to ER Now. Reason: Black widow antivenin may be needed.
• The brown widow spider is related to the black widow. It is found in southern US.
• Brown widow spider bites are treated the same as black widow bites.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite

• A brown spider with long legs (total size 1/2 inch or 12 mm).
• A dark violin shaped marking on top of its head.
• Causes pain at the bite. Blisters form within 4 to 8 hours.
• The center becomes bluish and depressed (crater-like) over 2 to 3 days.
• Skin damage may require skin grafting in 10% of cases.
• Other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain can occur. No life-threatening symptoms occur.
• Brown recluse spiders are hard to identify. If you can, bring the spider along in a jar.

Prevention of Spider Bites

• Wear gloves when working outdoors.
• Use an insect repellent. DEET repels spiders as well as insects.
• The AAP approves DEET use over 2 months old. Use 30% DEET or less. Use 30% DEET if you need 6 hours of protection. Use 10% DEET if you only need protection for 2 hours.
• Don't put DEET on the hands if your child sucks their thumb or fingers. (Reason: Prevent swallowing DEET)
• Warn older children who apply their own DEET to use less. A total of 3 or 4 drops can protect the whole body.
• Put on exposed areas of skin. Do not use near eyes or mouth. Don't use on skin that is covered by clothing. Don't put DEET on sunburns or rashes. (Reason: DEET can be easily absorbed in these areas.)
• Wash it off with soap and water when your child comes indoors.
• Caution: DEET can damage clothing made of man-made fibers. It can also damage plastics (eye glasses) and leather. DEET can be used on cotton clothing.

After Care Advice