Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Spider bites are uncommon. Often, people mistake a skin infection or a bite by another insect as a spider bite.
Only a few spiders have fangs strong enough to pierce your skin and enough venom to cause a reaction. In the U.S., these include the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Even these types of spiders tend to bite only when threatened.
Spider bites are rarely lethal. Treating the site of the spider bite is generally all that's necessary. In a few cases, symptoms may be severe and widespread enough to require antivenom treatment and hospitalization.
References
- Spider bites. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec21/ch325/ch325k.html. Accessed June 29, 2010.
- Vetter RS, et al. Approach to the patient with a suspected spider bite: An overview. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- OSHA fact sheet: Black widow spider. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/black_widow_spider.pdf. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Vetter RS, et al. Bites of widow spiders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Extension fact sheet: Black widow spider. The Ohio State University Extension. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061A.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- OSHA fact sheet: Brown recluse spider. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/brown_recluse_spider.pdf. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Vetter RS, et al. Bites of recluse spiders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Tetanus vaccine questions and answers. Immunization Action Coalition. http://www.vaccineinformation.org/tetanus/qandavax.asp. Accessed June 28, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on