A five-year-old girl from Massachusetts is recovering after being bitten by a black widow spider in her parents' back yard.
Kailyn Donovan, five, was so preoccupied while playing that she didn't even feel the slightest pinch of a bug bite.
It was only when her parents noticed a small purple-ish bruise on the back of her knee that suspicions were raised.
Josh and Kristine Donovan didn't think much else of the marking until the bruise began to grow larger and Kailyn began to develop a fever.
Credit: Flickr user Chris Yarzab
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After being taken to the doctor, Kailyn's strange marking was quickly identified as a spider bite and she was rushed off to the emergency room to be given antibiotics.
Unfortunately, the prescribed medicine did nothing to help and the youngster's parents were forced to drive her to a pediatric infectious-disease specialist for further help.
It was only then that they learned that their daughter had been bitten by a black widow spider - the most poisonous type of spider in North America.
Although the little girl is now recovering, Josh and Kristine are warning other parents to be aware of dangerous insects lurking in backyards.
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Black widow bites can in some cases be deadly, however, only a few fatalities have been recorded.
Kristine is urging other parents to inspect their children after playing outdoors and to seek medical help if they notice anything unusual.
Speaking to CBS News, Kristine said: "She never felt it bite her. It could have been in her jeans in the location where it bit her, we just don't know.
"She's happier now that we're not in the hospital. It doesn't seem to bother her. She looks at it, she doesn't think it's gross, so I try not to make a big deal out of it, to make her nervous or anything."
Credit: Flickr user Pete Brown
Dr William Durbin, the specialist at UMass Memorial Medical Center, told the Donovans they were right to bring Kailyn to him, otherwise things could have been worse.
He added: "She had a very distinctive bite, which was very scary for her parents and of course the doctors, too."
Black Widow spiders are easily recognisable by their distinctive shiny black bodies and red markings on the backs of the females. Males tend to have lighter pink or red spots.
They are one of the only breeds of spider with fangs long and strong enough to pierce human skin.
The poisonous spiders are found in temperate regions throughout the world, including the United States, southern Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and much of South America. In the US, they exist primarily in the south and west.
According to National Geographic, black widows are considered the most venomous spider in North America. Their venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's, but thankfully they will only bite if disturbed.
Pain may last for eight to 12 hours and the other symptoms may continue for several days, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Black widow anti-venom is available to help minimise damage.
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Sources: ABC News, CBS News, National Geographic
Featured Image Credit: PA