The black widow: is she deadly to children?

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Updated: Nov 3, 2026

Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
10:25

Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses

Published on: November 3, 2014

R Woestman1, R Perkin, D Van Stralen

  • 1Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, CA, USA.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|October 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Black widow spider envenomation (BWSE) in children typically causes abdominal pain and hypertension but rarely leads to severe complications or death. Prompt treatment, including antivenin, can accelerate symptom relief.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Black widow spider envenomation (BWSE) is a significant concern in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding the clinical presentation and outcomes of BWSE in children is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the morbidity and mortality associated with BWSE in pediatric patients.
  • To provide recommendations for optimal therapeutic strategies for BWSE in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients diagnosed with BWSE.
  • Data collected from an urban pediatric tertiary care hospital over a 10-year period (1984-1994).

Main Results:

  • The study included 12 pediatric patients aged 15 months to 18 years.
  • Common symptoms included abdominal pain (100%), hypertension (92%), muscle complaints (75%), and a target lesion (75%).
  • Eight patients recovered within 24 hours; antivenin appeared to hasten symptom relief. No deaths or complications were reported.

Conclusions:

  • BWSE in children is characterized by significant systemic effects, notably abdominal pain and hypertension.
  • While symptoms can be severe, BWSE in this pediatric cohort had no mortality or complications.
  • Antivenin therapy may expedite recovery from BWSE symptoms in children.

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