What Does A Black Widow Spider Bite Feel Like?

The bite of a widow spider usually causes a sharp pain, somewhat like a pinprick, followed by a dull, sometimes numbing, pain in the area around the bite. Cramping pain and muscle stiffness, which may be severe, develop in the abdomen or the shoulders, back, and chest. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, sweating, restlessness, anxiety, headache, drooping and swelling of the eyelids, rash and itching, severe breathing problems, increased saliva production, and weakness.

About Merck Manuals:

The website features an extensive and continually expanding collection of visual resources, including videos, animations, three-dimensional models, interactive quizzes, and infographics. The digital offering enhances the subject matter contained in The Merck Manual, a medical reference for doctors and pharmacists first published in 1899.

The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook translates the complex medical terminology contained in the professional version into everyday language. The first edition of the consumer version was introduced in 1997.