Signs & Symptoms of a Spider Bite in Children

There are approximately 20,000 species of spiders in the United States. The majority of them are poisonous but luckily their fangs usually are not strong enough to puncture human skin. The black widow and the brown recluse are the spiders most often reported to bite children. Although the bites are rarely fatal, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of the bites in case your child requires emergency care.

  1. Minor Symptoms

    • Brown recluse and black widow spider bites typically cause minor symptoms, including swelling, redness, tenderness, pain, rash and itching at the puncture site. Brown recluse spider bites also can have a deep blue or purple area surrounding the bite, ringed with a white outline and then a red outline, similar to a bullseye. Brown recluse spider bites also have been known to sometimes turn into a black blister or ulcer. Skin symptoms of brown recluse spider bites often are delayed for hours or days following the bite. Black widow spider bites reportedly feel like a pin prick and usually are marked by two small fang marks. Skin symptoms begin immediately following the bite.

    Brown Recluse Bite Major Symptoms

    • Children occasionally experience more serious symptoms following a brown recluse spider bite. These include nausea, vomiting, headache and body aches. You should wash the bite area with soap and water, elevate the affected limb to prevent swelling, give your child acetaminophen for pain, administer an antibiotic cream to prevent infection and apply a cold cloth or ice pack to the bite area. Take your child to a doctor if additional care is required.

    Black Widow Bite Major Symptoms

    • Black widow spider bites can have serious consequences in children because the venom targets the nervous system. Serious symptoms include headache, cramping pain and muscle stiffness in the chest, stomach, back and shoulders, dizziness, anxiety, restlessness, sweating, swelling of the eyelids, nausea, vomiting, drooling, watery eyes, weakness, trembling or paralysis of the legs. If your child has been bitten by a black widow spider, you should remain calm, wash the bite site with soap and water, apply a cold cloth or ice pack to the affected area, administer acetaminophen for pain symptoms and contact a physician for emergency care.

    Additional Symptoms

    • An allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can possibly occur in babies or children bitten by spiders. The main symptoms are shock, wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing and swelling of the mouth, throat, lips, tongue, eyelids, ears, palms, and bottoms of the feet. Other symptoms can include dizziness, confusion, diarrhea and hives. You should immediate seek emergency care if any of these symptoms are evident.

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