Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment
1. Clean and Protect
Clean area with gentle soap and water.
Apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
2. Control Swelling
Ice the area.
Elevate area if it is on an arm or leg.
3. Save the Spider, if Possible
Kill and save the spider for identification purposes.
4. Call a Health Care Provider
Prompt treatment is important, especially for children. Venom from a brown recluse spider bite can cause tissue damage that can lead to scarring as well as more serious complications.
Bring the spider to the health care provider's office if you can.
Calling Poison Control (800-222-1222) also can be helpful.
5. Follow Up
The health care provider will treat the wound area and may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection.
The health care provider may recommend ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18.
Occasionally, surgery or hospitalization is necessary.
It may take 6 to 8 weeks for the bite to heal.
WebMD Medical Reference
SOURCES;
University of Maryland Medical Center: "First Aid: Spider Bites."
American Association of Poison Control Centers.
KidsHealth: "Bug Bites and Stings."
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: "Spider Bites."
The Ohio State University: "Brown Recluse Spider."