Black Widow

Spider
By Kelsey Hamilton
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
Some Bites!