Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Spider Bites
Though many people are afraid of spiders, they rarely bite people unless threatened. Most spider bites are harmless. Occasionally, spider bites can cause allergic reactions. And bites by the venomous black widow and brown recluse spiders can be very dangerous to people.
If you are bitten by a spider, you may see a reaction similar to that of a bee sting, including redness, pain and swelling at the site. To treat a spider bite:
Wash the area well with soap and water Apply an ice pack or a wet compress to the area Take over-the-counter pain medicine, if needed Consider using antihistamines for severe swelling Seek medical treatment for small children and adults with severe symptoms
It sits within Injuries and Wounds.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Spider Bites
4 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research already completed
- Pharmacokinetic Study Protocol of ANAWIDOW Lyophilized Powder for Solution for Intravenous Use in Fasting ConditionsLaboratorios Silanes S.A. de C.V.
- Black Widow Spider Antivenin for Patients With Systemic LatrodectismInstituto Bioclon S.A. de C.V.
- The Efficacy and Safety of Aracmyn in Patients With Systemic LatrodectismInstituto Bioclon S.A. de C.V.
- Swiss Study on Spider BitesUniversity of Zurich
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Spider BitesMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Venomous Spiders at WorkNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- What to Do about Spider Bites (For Parents)Nemours Foundation
Treatments and Therapies
- Spider Bites: First AidMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: SpidersNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Spider Bites. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Spider Bites, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.