Spider Bite

Pediatric HouseCalls Online

DEFINITION

• Bite from a spider

Symptoms

• Bite symptoms include redness, pain, swelling
• Helpful if spider seen on the skin or in close proximity to the child 

Types of Spider Bites

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 2 fang marks.
• Severe muscle cramps (especially abdominal wall cramps) are present by 1 to 6 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.

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 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.
• Systemic symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain can occur (but no life-threatening symptoms).

Non-dangerous Spider Bites

• More than 50 spiders in the U.S. have venom and can cause local, nonserious reactions.
• The bites are painful and mildly swollen for 1 or 2 days (much like a bee sting).
• Many single, unexplained, tender bites that occur during the night are due to spiders.

See More Appropriate Topic(instead of this one) If

• Not a spider bite, see INSECT BITES.

FIRST AID Advice 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).

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WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If

• Difficulty breathing or wheezing

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick.

• Any black widow spider bite (see FIRST AID)
• 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 (between 9 am and 4 pm) 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 over 2 days.

Call Your Doctor During Weekday 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.

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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). Do this once. If not available, apply an ice cube in a wet washcloth 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 1 to 2 days. It shouldn't be any worse than a bee sting.
5. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Severe bite pain persists over 2 hours after pain medicine
   • Abdominal pains or muscle spasms occur
   • Local pain lasts over 2 days (48 hours)
   • Bite begins to look infected
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.