WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT A BLACK WIDOW BITE

Medically reviewed by Jordana Haber Hazan, MDMedically reviewed by Jordana Haber Hazan, MD

Black widow spiders, or Latrodectus mactans, are a type of venomous spider species known for their shiny black torsos and the red hourglass-shaped marks on their abdomens. Each year, more than 2,500 people in the United States are treated for black widow bites.

Native primarily to the U.S. and Canada, the venom in a black widow bite can affect your nervous system, causing nausea, pain, muscle spasms, and more. Bites should be treated right away by an emergency healthcare provider.

Black Widow Bite Symptoms

After a black widow bite, the first symptom is typically a painful pinprick sensation on your skin, which is caused by the neurotoxin alpha latrotoxin that makes up the venom. Within an hour of being bitten, you may notice soreness, redness, numbness, and a dull muscle ache that can spread throughout your body.

Although you may not initially feel the bite, other more severe symptoms can develop the longer you wait to receive treatment.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Minor swelling
  • Increased saliva
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • High blood pressure
  • Facial swelling
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Restlessness

If the bite occurs on your upper body, you will typically feel pain in your chest. If the bite occurs on your lower body, you will typically feel pain in your abdomen. Severe symptoms include seizures, heart failure, paralysis, and intense muscle spasms.

Many people who sustain a bite from a black widow will not initially know that a spider bite occurred. For example, they may present to the emergency department with chest or abdominal pain or pain and infection in a limb. It's not uncommon to first be misdiagnosed and tested for another diagnosis, such as ischemic chest pain (due to lack of blood flow to the heart) or acute abdominal pain.

Causes

Black widow spiders are most common in the southern and western parts of the United States. They tend to hide in dark, cluttered spaces. Black widows thrive in warmer climates and outdoor environments like barns, sheds, and woodpiles.

They usually roam and build their webs close to the ground. You are more likely to be bitten by a black widow if you come into contact with a black widow web or are working in an area with dense foliage.

How Is a Black Widow Bite Diagnosed?

An emergency health provider will look for visible signs of a bite and ask you about the symptoms you are experiencing. They will also measure and monitor your vital signs, including your pulse, temperature, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

Healthcare providers may suggest bringing in the spider in a closed container if possible. However, this is not recommended because of the risk of getting another spider bite. Although not required to make a diagnosis, an entomologist (a person who studies insects) or medical toxicologist can use it to develop a treatment plan.

An emergency healthcare provider may also request a chest or abdominal X-ray, depending on the site of the bite. This gives them a more detailed image of your tissues, organs, and bones. In some cases, they may also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure your heart rate. During an ECG, small plastic patches are attached to your skin to record heart signals.

Treatment

Seek emergency medical assistance to treat a black widow bite as soon as possible to prevent symptoms from worsening. You can also contact poison control if emergency help is not readily available.

Although rare, a black widow bite left untreated can be fatal. Treatments for a black widow bite include:

  • Pain-relieving medicines: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) target pain points caused by a black widow bite.
  • Muscle-relaxing medications: Benzodiazepines and other opioids can treat muscle spasms.
  • Antivenom medication: Also known as antivenin, this is usually only necessary in at-risk populations (such as children and the elderly). It can also help remove venom from the body in people with underlying health conditions.
  • Diuretics: This is a medication that flushes out excess fluid from your kidneys by producing more urine, making it easier for blood to pump to your heart.
  • Vasodilators: This medication increases the size of blood vessels, while cardiotonics enhance the contraction of the heart muscle, leading to improved blood flow.
  • Cardiotonics: This medication works with other anti-arrhythmic agents to prevent heart failure.
  • Anti-arrhythmic agents: When people experience heart failure from a bite, anti-arrhythmic agents help regulate their heartbeat.

Children and the elderly are most at risk of dying from a black widow bite. However, there have not been many reported deaths from black widow spiders in the United States.

People who are pregnant are also more at risk of more serious bite complications, as they can experience contractions and go into labor after a black widow bite.

Prevention

If you often spend time outdoors, there are some ways you can reduce your risk of being bitten. Here are some recommendations:

  • While outside, be conscious of dark, cluttered spaces where black widow spiders may be.
  • Wear gloves when working in areas with large logs or leaf piles.
  • Shake out shoes stored in a garage, mudroom, or cottage before putting them on.
  • Shake out clothing or blankets that have been untouched in a basement or attic for an extended period of time.
  • If you have small children, keep them from playing in large rock piles or woodpiles where black widow spiders are commonly found.

Related Complications

Most people who receive treatment will not experience severe complications. Although rare, severe complications may include:

  • Long-term pain or muscle spasms
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Blood in the urine

If the above symptoms occur after treatment, return to the ER for further assessment and more treatment.

A Quick Review

Black widows are a spider species that carry a neurotoxin in their bite that can harm human beings. They often live in dark, cluttered outdoor environments. Common symptoms include intense pain and a pinprick sensation at the site of the bite.

You may also experience swelling, muscle spasms, and nausea. If a black widow spider has bitten you, seek emergency medical assistance immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you go to the ER for a black widow bite?

The venom in a black widow spider is extremely toxic. The faster care is provided, the better your chances of recovery.

How poisonous is a black widow?

Black widows are very poisonous. Female black widows are more toxic than male black widows because they have larger venomous glands, longer fangs, and a larger body size compared to their male counterparts.

How long does it take to fully recover from a black widow bite?

With emergency treatment, it usually takes 24-48 hours to fully recover from a black widow bite. Death is rare from a black widow bite, and most people fully recover without serious complications.

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2024-09-19T18:10:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd