Spider Bites (including Black Widow and Brown Recluse Spider Bites) Symptoms and Pictures on MedicineNet.com

Font Size

Spider Bites (Black Widow and Brown Recluse) (cont.)

Most spiders are harmless; the two exceptions in the U.S. are the black widow and brown recluse spiders.
Spider bites are actually rare occurrences, and most presumed cases of spider bites are likely due to another condition that mimics the symptoms of a spider bite.
Bites from most (non-poisonous) spiders cause local redness, irritation, and pain that usually can be treated at home.
Always seek emergency medical care for a presumed black widow or brown recluse spider bite.

Last Editorial Review: 6/24/2009

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

What type of spider bit you, and did you have a reaction?

Anonymously share your comment to help others.

See 13 Viewer Comments

Submit Your Comment

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

Bed Bugs - Learn what bed bugs (Cimicidae) look like, how they spread, how to treat, kill and detect an infestation (at home, hotel), where they come from and bite symptoms.
Abdominal Pain - Learn about abdominal pain (pain in the stomach / abdomen) including causes, symptoms, how abdominal pain is diagnosed, and how abdominal pain is treated.
Rash - Learn about rash causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Common skin rashes include poison ivy, hives, shingles, eczema, contact dermatitis, ringworm, psoriasis and impetigo.

Health categories:	Slideshows \| Diseases & Conditions \| Symptoms & Signs \| Procedures & Tests \| Medications \| Health & Living \| News & Views \| Medical Dictionary
Popular health centers:	Allergies \| Arthritis \| Cancer \| Diabetes \| Digestion \| Healthy Kids \| Heart \| Men's Health \| Mental Health \| Women's Health \| More...
Publications:	ePublications (PDFs) \| XML News via RSS \| Audio Podcasts \| Email Newsletters
MedicineNet.com:	About Us \| Privacy Policy \| Site Map \| WebMD® \| Medscape® \| eMedicine® \| eMedicineHealth® \| RxList®