Black Widow Spiders Bites and Treatments

Black Widow Spider Bites

Although most black widow bites do not cause serious damage, their venom can cause symptoms such as nausea and muscle cramps. Bites are more dangerous for small children and elderly. The spiders are generally nonaggressive and only bite when they feel threatened. The best way to avoid a black widow bite is to keep skin covered when working outdoors especially with firewood and lumber, and use a pest repellent on clothing. Additionally, shake out clothing and shoes that are not often worn before getting dressed. If a bite does occur, clean the area with soap and water and seek medical help as soon as possible.

What a Widow Bite Feels Like and When to Get Help

Many widow bites start as a sharp pinprick, and some are barely felt. There may be one or two tiny red marks with little swelling. When venom is injected, pain usually spreads out from the bite within about an hour, and muscle cramping can follow in the belly, back, chest or limbs. Sweating, nausea, headache, restlessness and a rise in blood pressure are also possible. Doctors call this set of symptoms latrodectism. Symptoms tend to peak within several hours and ease over a day to a few days. Deaths are very rare with modern medical care.

While you arrange care:

• Apply a cool, wet cloth or a wrapped ice pack to ease pain.
• Remove rings, watches or tight clothing near the bite in case of swelling.
• If it is safe, trap the spider or take a clear photo so it can be identified.

Contact Poison Control or a doctor promptly for any suspected widow bite. Go to an emergency room for severe pain or cramping, chest pain or trouble breathing, or when the person bitten is a young child, an older adult, pregnant, or has heart problems. Treatment focuses on pain and muscle cramps, and antivenom is available for severe cases.

Brown widow bites are usually milder and tend to stay local to the bite. Pets: cats are especially sensitive to widow venom, so call a vet right away if one may have been bitten. To learn how to recognize each widow, see the black widow spider page.