Black widow 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 the patient has circulatory problems, decrease the time to prevent possible damage to the skin. The patient should be taken to the emergency room for treatment.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the time the bite occurred
• the area where the bite occurred
• the identify of the spider, if possible

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 it is necessary to go to the hospital, bring the spider (if possible) to the emergency room for identification.

What to expect at the emergency room:

• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Death in a normally healthy individual is uncommon. Full recovery usually takes about a week.