Overview
- NHS figures obtained by the Press Association on Monday show 100 admissions in 2025 for “contact with or toxic effect of spiders,” up from 47 in 2015, with 73 entering through A&E.
- Academics link the rise to the noble false widow, a non‑native spider now common in and around homes, particularly in southern England.
- Specialists say most bites cause brief pain and swelling similar to a wasp or bee sting, and they describe severe reactions as rare.
- Researchers report that serious illness usually stems from bacteria introduced at the bite site, so they advise washing the area, using a cold compress and painkillers, and seeking medical help if symptoms worsen.
- Scientists caution that NHS coding does not confirm the species involved and that media attention can lead to misattributed “spider bites,” while the data also show fluctuation with 43 cases in 2021, 95 in 2022, and 91 in both 2023 and 2024.