Black Widow Spider Bite

The patient is suddenly overwhelmed by a general numbness, and specially a deep pain in the bitten area. Cramps in shoulders, back, thighs, abdomen and thorax are common symptoms. Great swelling follows, salivation, difficulties to breathe and swallow, high pressure, anxiety, general weakness, headache and stomachache.
Warning : in pregnant women, black widow spider bite symptoms may produce early delivery.

WHAT TO DO :

Apply ice in the bitten skin for 10 minutes; then leave the injury alone for another 10 minutes; repeat process.
Victim has to be inmediatly carried away to an emergency room for proper treatment.

Before calling to the emergency service, gather the following information :

Age of patient
Time of bite
Area of the body where bite/bites happened.
Type of spider, whenever possible*.

*It would be very useful to trap the spider for proper identification.

Death in a normal and healthy patient is very rare, but it is probable in a very young kid or senior adult. Heavy black widow bite symptoms dissapear whithin 2 or 3 days, but lesser symptoms may endure for many weeks.

(pictures of bites in the main menu)

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» BLACK WIDOW SPIDER BITE SYMPTOM

The black widow spider bite symptoms start with the feeling the victim was injured with a pin, but severe pain soon follows.