Write an article based on this "Initiate treatment. Seek medical care. Use the antivenom, Antivenin Latrodectus Mactans."
The first step in treatment is to stay calm and safely identify the spider. Wash the area with mild soap and water and use ice applications or a cold cloth to help prevent swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Use a towel or soft and clean cloth between the skin and the ice-filled baggie or cold pack. Elevate the area that was bitten if possible and practical. Take an over-the-counter product to help with pain and/or inflammation such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. Be sure to follow the directions on the label. According to reports from poison control centers in the United States, more than 2500 incidents of black widow spider bites are reported each year in the United States. Go to an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room. You may want to call your regular doctor and inform him or her of the situation. Your doctor may want you to come straight to the office or have a preference as to the medical facility you go to. Wherever you end up going, inform them that you are on your way and that you were bitten by a black widow spider this will give the staff ample time to prepare. Do not attempt to drive yourself to the hospital. The venom from the bite can alter your responses abruptly. You may feel lucid when you start driving, but your condition can change quickly. Most people do not experience severe reactions from a black widow spider bite. In fact, some people have no problems at all and do not need medical care. Due to the possibility of severe pain, discomfort, and systemic changes, talk with your doctor as soon as possible or go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic to be sure you can receive prompt treatment should you develop any adverse effects or complications. Inform the doctor at the treatment facility of all medications or treatment steps taken upon arrival. Fortunately, only three cases of death have been recorded over many years. Some reports of serious complications and death have been linked to black widow bites in people that were already severely medically compromised. The antivenom has been available since the 1920s. At least one case report of a severe hypersensitivity reaction has limited the use of the antivenom in the United States. Complications from the bite are possible. A medical facility can monitor your vital signs and changes in your condition to determine if treatment is warranted. An article published in 2011 reviewed four cases of black widow spider bites. Three of the people bitten were treated with the antivenom and one was not due to concerns over hypersensitivity. The three people treated with the antivenom experienced relief from the severe pain caused by the bites in a short period of time, usually with 30 minutes of receiving the injection. All three people were observed for a few hours in the emergency treatment facility then discharged to home without further complications. The person that did not receive the antivenom was treated with strong pain and anti-inflammatory medications in the emergency department, then required admission to the hospital. The person received treatment in the hospital for two days, then began to feel better by the third day. He was discharged to home on the third day without further complications.