I see spiders a lot in my house. If one bites my child, should I take her to the doctor? | Expert Q/A

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Question:

I see spiders a lot in my house. If one bites my child, should I take her to the doctor?

Answer:

Most spider bites look and heal just like mosquito bites. A few rare spiders can cause more serious reactions. Brown recluse spiders (and their relatives) are rare and hide out in basements and woodpiles. These bites can cause serious local reactions. You'll notice that the bite site starts looking infected and becomes more painful.

Black widow spider bites are also rare but should be suspected if the child develops nausea, vomiting and severe stomach pain after a bite. It is very helpful to your doctor or emergency department if you can bring in the spider (dead or safely bottled) for identification.

By Aneema Van Groenou, M.D.
General Medicine

Content provided on this site is for educational purposes only and should not be construed to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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