Caterpillar Envenomation Workup

  • Author: Robert L Norris, MD; Chief Editor: Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM   more...
 
Updated: May 24, 2010
 

Laboratory Studies

Laboratory studies are generally not required for caterpillar stings unless evidence of coagulopathy is present.

  • CBC count
  • Coagulation studies
    • Prothrombin time (PT)
    • Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
    • Fibrinogen level
    • Fibrin degradation products
    • D-dimer assay
    • Urine bedside test for blood
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Imaging Studies

A chest radiograph is reasonable if the patient has significant respiratory symptoms.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert L Norris, MD  Professor, Department of Surgery; Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center

Robert L Norris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, California Medical Association, International Society of Toxinology, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Samuel M Keim, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Samuel M Keim, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD  Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gino A Farina, MD, FACEP, FAAEM  Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Gino A Farina, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM  Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School; Medical Director, WeCare Med, Inc

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
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  11. Seibert CS, Shinohara EM, Sano-Martins IS. In vitro hemolytic activity of Lonomia obliqua caterpillar bristle extract on human and Wistar rat erythrocytes. Toxicon. Jun 2003;41(7):831-9. [Medline].

  12. Shama SK, Etkind PH, Odell TM, et al. Gypsy-moth-caterpillar dermatitis. N Engl J Med. May 27 1982;306(21):1300-1. [Medline].

  13. Sridhar MS, Ramakrishnan M. Ocular lesions caused by caterpillar hairs. Eye. May 2004;18(5):540-3. [Medline].

  14. Steele C, Lucas DR, Ridgway AE. Endophthalmitis due to caterpillar setae: surgical removal and electron microscopic appearances of the setae. Br J Ophthalmol. Apr 1984;68(4):284-8. [Medline].

  15. Stipetic ME, Rosen PB, Borys DJ. A retrospective analysis of 96 "asp" (Megalopyge opercularis) envenomations in Central Texas during 1996. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1999;37(4):457-62. [Medline].

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Caterpillar envenomations. Puss caterpillar or asp. Photo courtesy of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center.
 
 
 
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