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Summary
Though many people are afraid of spiders, they rarely bite people unless threatened. Most spider bites are harmless. Occasionally, spider bites can cause allergic reactions. And bites by the venomous black widow and brown recluse spiders can be very dangerous to people.
If you are bitten by a spider, you may see a reaction similar to that of a bee sting, including redness, pain and swelling at the site. To treat a spider bite:
- Wash the area well with soap and water
- Apply an ice pack or a wet compress to the area
- Take over-the-counter pain medicine, if needed
- Consider using antihistamines for severe swelling
- Seek medical treatment for small children and adults with severe symptoms
Treatments and Therapies
- Spider Bites: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Black Widow Spider (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
- Brown Recluse Spider (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Spiders
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Children
- Hey! A Black Widow Spider Bit Me! (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Hey! A Brown Recluse Spider Bit Me! (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Hey! A Chigger Bit Me! (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Black widow spider (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Brown recluse spider (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Funnel-web spider bite (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Tarantula spider bite (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.