Black Widow vs. Brown Recluse Spiders Slideshow Pictures Bad Bugs and Their Bites Slideshow Pictures Bites and Infestations Image Gallery

Medical Author:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Spider Bite Symptoms

Black widow a spider bites result in a halo lesion consisting of a pale circular area surrounded by a ring of redness.

• The initial bite of the black widow spider is usually painful, and the victim will often note the spider during the bite.
  
  
• Numbness, tingling, rashes, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cramps, rigid abdominal muscles, chest tightness, weakness, and difficulty breathing may occur.
  
  
• The abdominal pain due to the spider bite can be so severe that it mimics abdominal medical conditions such as pancreatitis.
  
  
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a possible reaction to the venom.

Brown recluse bites are tender, red, swollen, and form blisters. The initial bite may or may not be noticed by the victim.

• Brown recluse bites cause local swelling, pain, itching, redness, tenderness, and blisters. They eventually form large ulcers and may cause tissue necrosis (death of the tissue in the area of the bite).
  
  
• Fever, chills, rash, nausea, and vomiting may develop.
  
  
• More severe reactions include kidney failure, blood coagulation abnormalities, and difficulty breathing. Death can occur. Symptoms of allergic reaction may be present.