What is the proper treatment for a spider bite?
Some spider bites cause only limited discomfort and can be treated at home with an ice pack and oral antihistamine to reduce swelling, and a topical antibiotic. Other spider bites cause large swellings and slow-to-heal ulcers at the site of the bite. They may require oral antibiotics and other prescription medications. Still other spider bites can cause severe damage to blood vessels, kidneys, red blood cells, and other parts of the body as well as swelling and necrosis (tissue death) at the site of the bite. Emergency room treatment and hospitalization may be necessary in severe cases. Whether a severe or a limited reaction occurs to a spider bite depends on the species of spider and the health and age of the person bitten. Children and the elderly are affected most severely. Among the species in the United States that can cause severe reactions are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Black widow spiders are usually black with a red hourglass or a row of red dots on t
