Spider bite in Rome. Where can we get help?

Spider bites can turn nasty, so I would seek out a doctor. If you have travel insurance, contact the company for advice on finding an English speaking doctor. Your hotel may also be able to help.

I agree with Linda that it would be good to see a doctor. If the bite looks bad enough that you are asking for help on a travel forum, it seems like it would be bad enough for a doctor to look at it. Your hotel should be able to help you find a place to seek treatment.

And if they are in an AirBnB there should be contact info for a doctor in the apartment. Hotels can always get a doctor.

Medical care in Italy is free, even for visitors.

A pharmacist can help, might be a good first stop while they try to find a doctor. At least they can get a cream or something for symptoms/pain.

Online doctors can prescribe, then you take the e-mailed prescription to the pharmacy to have it filled. I don’t know if a bite has to be seen in person, but I used a telehealth service for a skin infection, got antibiotics and a cream.
People use quickmd or mobidoctor. Googling for teleheath Or telemedicine Italy should give more choices.

Also Rome has lots of tourists. A quick google brings up multiple tourist-oriented medical clinics or house call doctors. I haven’t used them so can’t specifically recommend but there are options.

Just do something w/o waiting - go to a pharmacist and see what they say while making a Dr appointment. The pharmacy might have a doctor referral for you as well.

Med care in Italy is not free for foreigners, or I'd go there to get my knee replaced. It may be low cost, or they may waive the costs if they dont want to do the paperwork, but its not free.

She should Go to a pharmacy if she can't go to a doctor. In the ER they would make her wait for hours.

PS Medical care in Italy isn't free for Italians,either. It's cheaper, not free.

Hopefully they went to get help already, whether pharmacy or doctor, as it is already 5 pm on Saturday in Italy.

A ring around the bite is a sign of a bite by a Recluse spider, and there are Recluse spiders in Rome.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spider-bites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352371

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/alarm-over-venomous-spiders-in-rome.html

In Rome there is an hospital with a unit specialized on that problems: Policlinico Gemelli. He can go to the Emergency Service that is free in Italy even for tourists.
Since the boy is almost fine he will have a very low priority at the triage, so you must be very patient because probably the visit should take some hours before being performed.

Keep an eye on that unusual bite-ring that it doesn't become a bull's eye: Lyme disease. Personal experience.

Thank you one and all for your help. Turns out our friend’s son suffered a spider bite and then his dad got a stomach virus too. Thanks to you and your advice the hotel in Rome got a doctor to come and see them both. They are both being treated. The doctor will return in couple of days to check on them. The doc has instructed them on how to go to the hospital if both situations worsen. My friend is exhausted but is relived that both her son and husband are receiving treatment. Thank you all for your instant responses. The world is full of kind people! The Lord bless you all❤️

Monica, thanks so much for coming back with an update! Hope Kiddo and Dad heal quickly.

I second Pam’s thanks for checking back in! And I know the people who had actual suggestions appreciate it!