Is this your symptom?
- Bite from a spider
Symptoms of a Spider Bite
- Most spider bites cause local pain, redness and swelling. It's like a bee sting reaction.
- A few spiders (such as the Black Widow) can cause a more severe reaction.
- It is helpful to note what the spider looked like, if it was seen on the skin or around you.
- If you can, capture the spider in a jar with a lid. It will help you identify the spider. Only do this if it does not risk getting another bite.
Cause of Spider Bite Reactions
- Most spiders have tiny fangs. They inject venom into the skin.
- The venom is what causes all the symptoms.
Types of Spider Bites
Black Widow Spider Bite
- A shiny, jet-black spider with long legs. Total size 1 inch (25 mm).
- A red (or orange) hourglass-shaped marking on its under-side.
- Causes local pain and swelling right away.
- Sometimes, you can see 2 fang marks at the bite site.
- Severe muscle cramps (and stomach cramps) occur within 1 to 6 hours. These last 24 to 48 hours.
- Rarely causes death. Exception: bitten by several spiders.
- Note: many are dry bites (no venom) because the fangs are small.
- 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 small brown spider; total size ½ inch (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.
Non-dangerous Spider Bites
- More than 50 spiders in the U.S. have venom. Their bites cause reactions that are not serious. This includes pain or redness at the bite site.
- The bites are painful and swollen. This often lasts for 1 or 2 days. They can feel and look like a bee sting.
When to Call for Spider Bite
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call 911 Now
- Trouble breathing or wheezing
- Passed out (fainted) or too weak to stand
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Go to ER Now
- Black or brown widow spider bite suspected
- Stomach pain, chest tightness or other muscle cramps
- Severe pain
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Fever and bite looks infected (spreading redness)
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- More than 48 hours since the bite and redness gets larger
- Bite starts to look bad (such as skin damage, blister or purple color)
- Pain lasts more than 2 days
- Last tetanus shot was more than 10 years ago
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Non-serious spider bite
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
