History

The history may indicate that a patient was handling a millipede. On occasion, the history of a patient (eg, a sleeping victim, small child) may be obscure.^{[15, 16, 17, 18, 19]}

Skin irritation
Pain
Brown staining at the site of contact
Slight blistering
Eye irritation and pain

Physical Examination

Physical examination findings include the following:

Local erythema
Mild edema
Vesicles
Occasionally, cracked skin that may slough and then heal
Conjunctivitis, which may lead to ulceration of the conjunctiva and cornea

Complications

Cutaneous exposures generally heal without complications.

Conjunctivitis or corneal ulcerations can complicate eye exposures.

Differential Diagnoses

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Media Gallery

The desert millipede, Orthoporus ornatus. Photo by Robert Norris, MD.
The desert millipede, Orthoporus ornatus. Photo by Robert Norris, MD.
Millipede contact injury on day 3 following exposure.

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Author

Steven A Lorber, MD, FAAEM, FACEP Assistant Professor, Interim Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine, St Louis University Hospital

Steven A Lorber, MD, FAAEM, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Preeti Dalawari, MD, MSPH, FAAEM, FACEP Associate Professor, Director of Research, Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine; Attending Physician in Emergency Medicine, St Louis University Hospital

Preeti Dalawari, MD, MSPH, FAAEM, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

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.

Richard H Sinert, DO Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Research Director, State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Vice-Chair in Charge of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center

Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Joe Alcock, MD, MS Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Joe Alcock, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Robert L Norris, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center

Robert L Norris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

James Li, MD Former Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Board of Directors, Remote Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Millipede Envenomation Clinical Presentation

History

Physical Examination

Complications

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

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