Symptoms
Typically, a spider bite looks like any other bug bite â a red, inflamed, sometimes itchy or painful bump on your skin â and may even go unnoticed. Harmless spider bites usually don't produce any other symptoms.
Black widow spider bites
Signs and symptoms of a black widow spider bite may include:
- Pain. Typically beginning within an hour of being bitten, pain generally occurs around the bite mark, but it can spread from the bite site into your abdomen, back or chest.
- Cramping. Abdominal cramping or rigidity can be so severe that it's sometimes mistaken for appendicitis or a ruptured appendix.
- Sweating. Excessive sweating can occur.
Brown recluse spider bite
The pain associated with a brown recluse spider bite typically increases during the first eight hours after the bite. You may also have fever, chills and body aches. The bite usually heals on its own in about a week. In a minority of cases, the skin at the center of the bite can become dark blue or purple and then evolve into a deep open sore (ulcer) that enlarges as the surrounding skin dies. The ulcer usually stops growing within 10 days after the bite, but full healing can take months.
When to see a doctor
Seek prompt medical care in the following situations:
- You are unsure whether the bite was from a poisonous spider.
- The person who was bitten experiences severe pain, abdominal cramping or a growing ulcer at the bite site.
- The person who was bitten is having problems breathing.
Your doctor may recommend a tetanus booster shot if you haven't had one in the last five years.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com