That bites: recognizing spider bites

Wondering what crawled into your child’s room and bit her in the middle of the night? If you see two little pinpricks side by side, it’s probably a spider. Spider fangs make two little bite marks. Unfortunately, by the time you examine it in the morning, the bite may be so puffy and red that the two marks are no longer visible. With the exception of the Black widow spider and the Brown recluse spider, most spider bites are harmless and cause only a little bit of irritation. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1% ointment, ice, and an analgesic such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can take the edge off of the itch and/or pain.