Most spider bites cause only minor injury. A few spiders can be dangerous. In the United States, these include the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider.
Seek emergency care immediately if:
To take care of a spider bite:
Your doctor may recommend a tetanus booster shot if you haven't had one in the last five years.
You can usually identify a black widow spider by the hourglass marking on its belly. In the United States, this spider is more common in the South.
Signs and symptoms of a black widow spider bite may include:
The brown recluse spider has a violin-shaped marking on its back, but this mark can be hard to see. In the United States, its range is central and southern states.
Signs and symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite vary but may include:
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