Ronnie Thomas from Montbello is in the intensive care unit (ICU) after being bitten by a black widow spider.
“I woke up in the middle of the night because he was coughing,” said his wife Wendy to KDVR. “But again, I thought he was just catching a cold.”
Black widow spider bites are rare, but they can be serious, especially for young children and older adults. The venom from a black widow spider can cause severe pain, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, black widow spider bites can be fatal.
According to the outlet “Ronnie had pain in his hand and applied some medical cream to feel better — the only hint something was wrong. Then she found a black widow spider in her Montbello home.”
A few days passed, and Wendy found another Black Widow, this time, it was crawling on her husband. A few days later the “family took Ronnie to the hospital” where they found more “issues related to the bite.”
“On his brain scan, they’ve seen how he’s had strokes since he’s been under,” Wendy said.
Expert Advice on Black Widow Spider Bites
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there are about 2,200 black widow spider bites reported in the United States each year. Most black widow spider bites are not fatal, but they can be serious. If you are bitten by a black widow spider, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Here are some tips to help prevent black widow spider bites:
- Wear gloves and long sleeves when working in areas where black widow spiders are common.
- Be careful when moving objects that have been sitting in storage, as black widow spiders often hide in dark, undisturbed places.
- Inspect your shoes and clothing before putting them on, as black widow spiders can sometimes crawl inside.
- If you find a black widow spider in your home, contact a pest control professional to have it removed.
If you are bitten by a black widow spider, the following symptoms may develop within minutes to hours:
- Intense pain at the bite site
- Muscle cramps, especially in the abdomen and legs
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Sweating
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
If you would like to help the Thomas family, a GoFundMe account is here
