Spider bites are usually harmless. In fact, spiders don’t usually bite unless they feel threatened. While spider bites can cause redness, pain, and swelling, sometimes you might not even notice them at all. Keep in mind that many other bug bites and skin sores cause similar symptoms. So, unless you actually saw a spider bite you, it’s difficult to be certain that your wound was caused by a spider.
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Identifying Spider Bites
A spider bite typically looks like any other bug bite. You might experience a red, inflamed, itchy, or painful bump on your skin. Harmless spider bites usually don’t produce any other symptoms.
However, bites from venomous spiders, such as widow spiders and recluse spiders, can cause serious signs and symptoms.
Widow Spider Bites
Widow spiders are found throughout the United States (except Alaska). They prefer warm climates and like to hang out in sheds, garages, woodpiles, and closets. Widow spiders are more active in the warmer months.
Signs and symptoms of a widow spider bite can include:
- Redness, pain, and swelling around the bite that may spread to the abdomen, back, or chest
- Severe abdominal rigidity or cramping, which is sometimes mistaken for appendicitis or a ruptured appendix
- Nausea, vomiting, tremors, or sweating
Symptoms can last one to three days.
Recluse Spider Bites
Recluse spiders are commonly found in the southern United States. Like widow spiders, they prefer warm climates. These spiders like to hide away in undisturbed areas, such as cluttered basements and attics, behind bookshelves, and in rarely used cupboards. They may even wind up in bed linens and clothing.
Signs and symptoms of a recluse spider bite can include:
- Increasing pain over the first eight hours after the bite
- Fever, chills, and body aches
- A bite wound with a pale center that turns dark blue or purple with a red ring around it
- A bite wound that grows into an open sore (ulcer) with the skin around it dying
When to See a Doctor
Seek medical care immediately if:
- You were bitten by a venomous spider, such as a widow or recluse.
- You’re unsure whether the bite was from a venomous spider.
- You have severe pain, abdominal cramping, or a growing wound at the bite site.
- You’re having problems breathing or swallowing.
- The area of the sore has spreading redness or red streaks.
What Causes Severe Spider Bite Symptoms?
Severe spider bite symptoms occur as a result of venom. Symptom severity depends on the type of spider, the amount of venom injected, and your body’s sensitivity to the venom.
Spider Bite Risk Factors
Risk factors for spider bites include living in areas where venomous spiders live and disturbing their natural habitat.
Spider Bite Complications
In rare cases, a bite from a widow spider or recluse spider can be deadly, especially to young children. A severe wound from a recluse spider can take weeks or months to heal and may leave large scars.
Spider Bite Prevention
Spiders usually bite in defense—for example, when they are trapped between your skin and another object.
To prevent spider bites:
- Familiarize yourself with what dangerous spiders look like and where they like to live.
- When handling stored boxes or firewood or cleaning out sheds, garages, basements, attics, crawl spaces, wear a long-sleeved shirt, hat, long pants tucked into socks, gloves, and boots.
- Inspect and shake out gardening gloves, boots, and clothing before use.
- Use insect repellents, such as DEET.
- Keep insects and spiders out of your home by installing tight-fitting screens on your windows and doors and sealing any cracks where they could get in.
- Reduce clutter around your house, and avoid storing firewood against the walls of your home.
- Make sure beds aren’t pushed against the wall.
- Don’t store items under your bed, and don’t let bedding drag on the floor.
- Remove spiders and spiderwebs from your home.
- If you find a spider on your skin, flick it off with your finger rather than crushing it.
- Wear gloves, a surgical mask, and eye protection when cleaning tarantula enclosures.