From the Guidelines
For most spider bites, treatment involves cleaning the bite with soap and water, applying a cold compress to reduce swelling and pain, taking over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as needed, and elevating the affected limb if possible. According to the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1, spider bites and scorpion stings are common occurrences in the United States, and although many are benign, some species of spider can cause more severe localized and systemic symptoms. The guidelines recommend that emergency services should be called if a person bitten by a spider or stung by a scorpion develops symptoms throughout the body such as difficulty breathing, muscle rigidity, dizziness, or confusion 1. Some key points to consider in the treatment of spider bites include:
- Cleaning the bite with soap and water
- Applying a cold compress to reduce swelling and pain
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as needed
- Elevating the affected limb if possible
- Applying an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to prevent infection
- Using an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25-50mg every 6 hours or applying hydrocortisone cream 1% for itching It is essential to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect a bite from a black widow or brown recluse spider, or if you develop severe symptoms like intense pain, spreading redness, difficulty breathing, severe swelling, or flu-like symptoms 1. Monitoring symptoms is crucial, especially in children, elderly, or those with compromised immune systems, as spider venom can cause tissue damage or systemic reactions in some cases 1.
From the Research
Treatment for Spider Bites
- Most spider bites cause minimal or no effects and result in nothing more than local irritation 2
- For minor spider bites, no specific treatment is required, but patients may be informed about the nature and consequences of the bite 2
- In cases of latrodectism (red back spider envenomation), patients may experience pain, local, radiating, and regional, with less common systemic symptoms 2
- For funnel web spider bites, which are a medical emergency, a pressure immobilisation bandage should be applied and the patient transferred to a hospital with available antivenom and resuscitation facilities 2
- Clinicians should consider spider bite in the differential diagnosis of unexplained autonomic and neurological dysfunction, particularly in children 2
- Skin ulceration is more likely to be an infective, inflammatory, or traumatic cause than a case of necrotising arachnidism in Australia 2