If a brown recluse or black widow spider bit a person, what are the chances of survival?

Rarely fatal: As with bee stings and other bites, individuals can have an anaphylaxis reaction & that prove fatal. Both brown recluse & black widow bites can produce local and systemic findings that require medical care. The black widow is more likely to result in hospitalization & the brown recluse more likely to leave a nasty scar.

Usually great: The most important factors that determine issues of morality or morbidity are: the age and medical condition of the patient and the severity or grade of the bite. Historically, only the very young, very old or chronically ill develop major issues.