Injury or Poisoning
spider bite
spi·der bite
Subclass of:
Bites and Stings
Definitions related to spider bites:
-
The effects, both local and systemic, caused by the bites of SPIDERS.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
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.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Almost all of the 40,000 species of spiders are venomous. However, the fangs of most species are too short or too fragile to penetrate the skin.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
-
Spider bites are usually harmless. Many bites attributed to spiders turn out to have been inflicted by other bugs. Skin infections also have been mistaken for spider bites.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> S
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.