Spider Bite When Pregnant: Symptoms, Safety, And Treatment

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For humans, getting bitten by a spider may lead to allergies, lesions, pus formation, and scars. However, what happens when one experiences spider bites when pregnant? While pregnant, a spider bite may cause pregnancy complications for both the mother and the baby, and the mother may experience the expected symptoms on a larger scale. Continue reading this post to know about the identification, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of spider bites in pregnancy.

Are Spider Bites Dangerous During Pregnancy?

Most spider bites are likely to be harmless. Some spider bites such as brown recluse or black widow could lead to serious illnesses (such as anaphylactic shockⁱXA severe reaction to an allergy may be potentially fatal. ) or death. This is regardless of pregnancy and may happen with anyone. If possible, try spider identification to spot the spider that has bit you to go for the right treatment (1).

Quick tip

If possible, take the spider that bit you to the doctor. It will help identify the spider and initiate suitable treatment (1).

Identifying Spider Bites

Certain venomous arachnids that are responsible for causing bites are discussed below (2).

Widow spiders: They do not come out unless evoked. They are usually present in quiet, undisturbed, or dark places such as basements and closets. Out of five widow spider species, the bites of three black widow spiders are likely to cause severe poisoning. You might recognize them with their reddish-orange ‘hourglass’ shape on their belly.

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Recluse spiders: They are also found in quiet and dark areas similar to the black widows but usually come during the night. There are about 12 species out of which only 50% may cause bites. You might recognize them with their fiddle/violin-shaped markings on the upper body. Some other poisonous recluse spiders could be orange, pale brown, reddish-brown, or gray in color.

Caution

Although quite uncommon, venomous spider bite or sting may result in fetal complications, such as preterm birthⁱXEarly birth of a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy are over. , stillbirthⁱXFetal death occurring at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy. , and placental abruptionⁱXA pregnancy complication in which the placenta detaches from the womb, depriving the baby of essential nutrients and oxygen. (5).

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Symptoms Of Spider Bites During Pregnancy

Signs and symptoms of spider bites are quite apparent. Find below some prominent symptoms of spider bite that might develop while pregnant.

• Mild pain
• Burning sensation
• Itching
• Rash
• Abdominal cramps
  

  

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• Muscle ache
• Headache
• Excessive sweating
• Tremor
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Swelling of your lymph nodes
• Stiffness or pain in joints
• MalaiseⁱXA general feeling of illness or discomfort.

Treating Spider Bites In Pregnancy

Early treatment may help mitigate the symptoms and after-effects of spider bites in pregnancy. So, you need to seek antivenom medications and treat spider bites as soon as you discover it. Here are some effective prenatal care treatments that may help you alleviate the symptoms of spider bites during pregnancy.

1. Apply cold packs

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Clean the affected skin with water and mild soap. Then apply cold packs to the bitten area to mitigate the inflammation and pain resulting due to the bite. A cold compress may provide you relief from pain significantly  (3).

2. Use bandage:

Pressure immobilization bandage may help in treating a big black spider bite. You need to bandage the area of your body, such as your leg or arm firmly, and stay calm before seeking medical treatment (4). Also, if the spider has bitten your hand or leg then elevate your hand or leg.

3. Take over-the-counter medicine

Having over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol, could also help you get rid of pain resulting from the spider bite. It is good to have a word with your doctor before taking a powerful pain reliever while expecting (3) (4).

Quick tip

Antiseptic liquid, hydrocortisone creamⁱXA steroid that works on the body’s immune system and helps reduce symptoms like redness, swelling, or itching. and calamine lotion may also help treat the spider bite in pregnant women (5).

Preventing Spider Bites During Pregnancy

It is always better to prevent toxin exposure from bites during pregnancy than treating it later on. Here are some prevention tips to safeguard your pregnancy from the harmful effects of spider bites (1) (5) (6).

• Wear long-sleeve protective clothing.
• Use effective insect repellents, such as Picaridin or DEET, on your footwear and clothing.
  

  

  Image: Shutterstock

• Get rid of old items, boxes, clothes, and unwanted objects from your house.
• Stay cautious of areas such as corners behind furniture, undisturbed piles of wood, and seldom-opened containers.
• Install tight-fitting screens on your doors and windows to keep spiders out of your house.
• Vacuum spider webs and spiders and using a sealed bag dispose them out of your house

Infographic: How To Protect A Pregnant Woman From Spider Bites?

While not all spiders are dangerous, some have venom and can be a concern for pregnant women if bitten. However, with simple precautions, you can protect yourself and your baby from the harmful effect of spider bites. The infographic below includes some effective ways to prevent spider bites during pregnancy. Take a look!

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Dr. Mamta SahuDGO

Dr. Mamta Sahu works as a consultant at various hospitals in Delhi and also manages her private practice in Noida. With over 18 years of experience in gynecology and obstetrics, she specializes in high risk pregnancies, adolescent health, fertility treatments, and menopausal problems. In Noida, she started a "Preventive Care For Young Women" program that addresses  nutrition and lifestyle disorders,...more

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). She has been into health and...more

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in...more

Reshmi DasMSc

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction. She writes health and wellness articles for children and pregnant and lactating women. Reshmi has completed her post graduation in Biotechnology from MITS School of Biotechnology,...more