What to Do for a Spider Bite?

Take a pen and draw a circle around the red outline of the bite. If the redness grows beyond the ink circle, than that could be a poisonous bite and the only thing to stop it is prescribed antibiotics from a Dr.

Pus draining from the area could mean he got a skin infection from the bite (see here, click on skin infection):

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Insect-Bites-and-Sting...

Most spider bites are pretty harmless and can be treated at home, others, like a brown recluse or black widow requires immediate medical attention. I know a woman who had to have part of her leg amputated b/c she didn't seek treatment fast enough for a brown recluse bite!

At least call the pediatrician and see what they advise you to do.

I would take your son to the Dr, or at least give them a call. My son had a little bite on his bottom. Note sure if it was a spider bite, but none the less, he ended up getting a staph infection. We all carry staph on our bodies. Just to ease your mind I would take him in.

S.

Get it checked out with a doctor. There is a very poisonous spider common in Texas called a brown recluse which likes dark places/closets/attics, etc. Harmless looking (brown, looks like a common spider) but is poisonous and causes a terrible ulcer sore to form. My nanny was bitten in my home and was hospitalized.

I would take my child to the Dr. as soon as I saw the bite get worse. Even if it meant going to someone other than my pedi. (Care Now, etc)

Susan

I just got bit by a spider as well on my bicep and it looked gross it puffed up to the size of a silver dollar and was raised, i went to Care Now and the doctor said it was an allergic reaction so he gave me cream for it and it went away very quickly it itched like crazy but they said not to itch because it would inflam it even more. I dont like messin around with bites of any kind when i was younger i got bit by a spider on my knee and it caused three red lines to start going up my leg i had to have a shot! I hope your son feels better soon.

I always get spider bites, & I was bitten by a brown recluse when I was younger. I almost lost my arm, & I have a big scar on my arm that looks like I dug out my skin with a spoon.

When I first notice them, I try to get the pus out. Then I draw a circle around the edge of the red part. I wait & see how long it takes until it gets bigger...does that make sense? If the inflamation goes past my line quickly, then I need to get to a doc.

Now, I am in NO WAY A DOCTOR, so take your son to a doc as soon as you can. That's just the way I handle it now, & they never get worse. I think my bite got worse when I was little because my mom didn't see it until it got really bad.

Good luck!!

When my 2 yr old was bit, we went to the doc. We were told to keep it clean and covered. They didnt give me anything for it. This was several months ago and the scar is still there. I didnt put anything on it except soap and water.

Take a pen/marker and draw a circle around it. If the bite gets bigger than the circle take him in immediatly.

T.,
I have already prayed for him, now here is my advise.

Because your son is only 17mo I would do as suggested and take him to a dr if you see it spreading in redness or if he has any other symptoms. Read online about brown recluse spider bites for a while and you will soon realize that it is nothing to mess around with.

Since it formed a blister and burst I would put neosporin (triple antibiotic ointment) on it until you get him to a dr.

It may not be a brown recluse and you may just need to treat it like you are trying to keep down infection and treat against an allergic reaction. If your son can take Benadryl by mouth use the recommended dose every 4 hours to reduce the histamine affect in his body. This will make him sleepy most likely, so don't be alarmed about that. (I can't even take it without fighting to stay awake.)

However, I still recommend that you get him to a dr if after 24 hrs he is not any better. (drawing the ring around the redness to see if it shrinks or grows is a good idea)

Please post and let us know how he is doing soon.
~S.

PS
If you see anything that looks dark or black in the center of this bite, you have no choice but to take him immediately to a dr. or emergency room.

It has always been my experience that to go to the dr office in the day is better than waiting till the e.r. is the only choice at night. There are a lot more germs that he (and you) would be exposed to in the e.r. Then there is the waiting that is no fun for a sick child.
Just a thought.

Sorry to hear about the bite. I would definitely take your child in to see someone ASAP.

If there is redness or pus at the site you may want to visit your doctor.Do you know what kind of spider it was?It almost sounds like a brown recluse bite,if it is they will want to give antibiotics. Make sure that it isn't getting bigger as it may get infected.

My pedi advised me to use pure aloe vera or neosporin. Give him a hug from us all!