Spider Bites Health Video

Spider bites can range from harmless to fatal, spiders themselves coming in many varieties. Learn more about spider bites in this health video.

Take Action

Wash with soap & water
Apply ice-pack to area
Take medications for the pain
See doctor if wheezing, swelling, dizziness, & nausea

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

DR. SUSAN L. MCGLADDERY: Hello my name is Dr. Susan McGladdery, and I am the Medical Director from First Med Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to talk to you briefly about spider bites. These are usually a minor problem causing a little pain and irritation but not normally as serious or lasting health problem. Rarely, however, the bite can become infected or there may be an allergic or even a toxic reaction to the bite which can occasionally result in death. If you're bitten by a spider, you should wash that area carefully with soap and water and do this several times per day until the skin is healed. You can also apply an ice pack wrapped in cloth or a cold wet wash cloth to the area that has been bitten. It's also possible to reduce the pain with medication such as acetaminophen or paracetamol or ibuprofen. In addition, you can use antihistamine either topically or by mouth to decrease any itching problem. You need to get medical help directly if you notice any of the following signs which can indicate a serious or potentially life threatening allergic reaction. This includes wheezing or difficulty breathing, tightness or throat or chest, swelling of the lips, the tongue or the face, feeling dizzy or faint, or nausea or vomiting. It's also important to know the kind of dangers in the area that you're living. Many counties in Europe have no problems with poisonous spiders but in North America and Australia, there are more chances of being bitten by a poisonous spider. In this case, if you suspect that someone's been bitten by a poisonous spider, you do need to apply ice to the bite as soon as you can and take that person to the emergency room even if no symptoms have developed yet. It may be necessary very rapidly to give that person some kind of antitoxin to counteract the effects of the spider bite.