A spider bite may be serious if it exhibits symptoms beyond mild pain and redness, including severe muscle cramping, widespread pain, spreading swelling, blistering or ulceration, systemic symptoms like fever or nausea, difficulty breathing, or signs of an allergic reaction such as swelling of the tongue or throat and dizziness.
Signs a Spider Bite is Serious
- Severe local pain that worsens over time.
- Redness spreading beyond the bite area.
- Formation of blisters, ulcers, or necrotic wounds.
- Muscle cramps and stiffness, especially in abdomen, chest, or back.
- Systemic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremors, fever, chills, weakness, or fatigue.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Rapid heartbeat or chest pain.
- Signs of anaphylaxis like swelling of the tongue, throat tightness, or loss of consciousness.
What to Do
- Seek urgent medical care if there is difficulty breathing, severe pain, rapidly spreading redness or swelling, or any signs of anaphylaxis.
- If possible, capture the spider safely to help identify the species for treatment.
- Watch for worsening symptoms over 1-2 days, fever, or changes in the wound like ulceration.
These indicators help distinguish harmless spider bites from potentially dangerous ones caused by species like black widow or brown recluse spiders, which can cause severe systemic reactions or necrotic skin lesions.