Black Widow Spider

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Black Widow Spider

• By Kelsey Hamilton

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What to look for?

• The black widow is a medium-sized spider whose
  body is about a half-inch long. The name is
  derived from the mistaken belief that the female
  invariably kills the male after mating. Although
  the spider is mostly found in the southern United
  States, it may be seen throughout the US. Five
  species are common to the US, with two of them
  being the most common
• The southern black widow has the shiny, black,
  globular abdomen with the distinctive red
  hourglass on the underside.
• The northern black widow has a row of red spots
  down the middle of the upper surface of its
  abdomen and two crosswise bars on the
  undersurface. The markings can also be yellow or
  white, and the spider itself may be brown or have
  red legs.
• Black widow spiders are nocturnal and, thus, are
  active at night. They prefer dark corners or
  crevices. They are said to avoid human dwellings,
  but you can find them in such areas as outhouses
  and garages. Only the female black widow bites
  humans, and she bites only when disturbed,
  especially while protecting her eggs.

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Bite Symptoms!

• The black widow spider produces a protein venom
  that affects the victim's nervous system. This
  neurotoxic protein is one of the most potent
  venoms secreted by an animal. Some people are
  slightly affected by the venom, but others may
  have a severe response. The first symptom is
  acute pain at the site of the bite, although
  there may only be a minimal local reaction.
  Symptoms usually start within 20 minutes to one
  hour after the bite.
• Local pain may be followed by localized or
  generalized severe muscle cramps, abdominal pain,
  weakness, and tremor. Large muscle groups (such
  as shoulder or back) are often affected,
  resulting in considerable pain. In severe cases,
  nausea, vomiting, fainting, dizziness, chest
  pain, and respiratory difficulties may follow.
• The severity of the reaction depends on the age
  and physical condition of the person bitten.
  Children and the elderly are more seriously
  affected than young adults.
• In some cases, abdominal pain may mimic such
  conditions as appendicitis or gallbladder
  problems. Chest pain may be mistaken for a heart
  attack.
• Blood pressure and heart rate may be elevated.
  The elevation of blood pressure can lead to one
  of the most severe complications.
• People rarely die from a black widow's bite.
  Life-threatening reactions are generally seen
  only in small children and the elderly.

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Medications!

• The person bitten by a black widow spider, who
  has pain severe enough to seek treatment at an
  Emergency Department, will require narcotic pain
  relief. Muscle relaxants given by injection may
  also be of value. Although calcium gluconate
  given through an IV has long been advocated, it
  does not seem to produce much relief of symptoms.
• Symptoms are often not easily relieved, even with
  narcotics. Some experts recommend that antivenin
  be used in any severe bite because one vial of
  the antitoxin produces significant and rapid
  relief of symptoms. It can even be used if there
  is delay in reaching the hospital. Yet other
  sources recommend that antivenin be used only in
  children, the elderly, and those with severe
  underlying medical conditions.

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Follow Up!

• Follow-up is always necessary in cases where
  antivenin is used. Although serum sickness is
  uncommon with single-vial doses of horse serum,
  it may occur 7-12 days after exposure and is
  characterized by skin lesions, fever, pain in the
  joints, and swollen lymph glands. The symptoms
  may occur sooner in a sensitized person. The
  process is self-limited, goes away in 2-3 weeks,
  and may be treated with antihistamines and
  steroids.

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Prevention!

• Because black widow spiders bite if they are
  disturbed, care should be taken in reaching into
  dark areas. In areas where spider infestations
  are a problem, the use of a pest control service
  may also be useful.

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Some Bites!