| ENCYCLOPEDIA INDEX |
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Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test |
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W Y Z |
Black widow spider |
| Overview Symptoms Treatment |
| Home Treatment: |
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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. Seek immediate emergency medical treatment. |
| Before Calling Emergency: |
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Determine the following information:
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| Poison Control, or a local emergency number: |
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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 safely possible) to the emergency room for identification. |
| What to expect at the emergency room: |
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Treat the symptoms with a variety of therapies, such as pain medication, muscle relaxants for spasms, anti-hypertension drugs for elevated blood pressure, and in severe cases, antivenin medication. |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
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Death in a normally healthy individual is very rare, but is more likely in very small children and elderly victims. Severe symptoms usually resolve within 2-3 days, but milder symptoms may persist for several weeks. |
Arthropods, basic features |
Arachnids, basic features |
Black widow spider |
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