Pruning spider

Home treatment:

Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth or other suitable covering) on the site of the bite for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If patient has circulatory problems, decrease the time to prevent possible damage to the skin.

The patient should be taken to an emergency room for treatment.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• identification of the insect if possible
• the time bitten

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

If possible, bring the insect to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Death in an otherwise normally healthy person is uncommon. Recovery usually takes about a week.