Millipede Envenomation Treatment & Management

Updated: Jun 18, 2018
  • Author: Steven A Lorber, MD, FAAEM, FACEP; Chief Editor: Joe Alcock, MD, MS  more...
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Treatment

Approach Considerations

Any millepede secretions on the patient's skin should be washed away with soap and water.

Eye exposure should be treated similarly to corneal burns, with prompt immediate instillation of local anesthetic drops, followed by copious irrigation with saline solution or water. [13, 21]  In consultation with ophthalmology, topical antimicrobials and topical steroids can be considered. [13]

Adequate tetanus immunization status should be ensured.

Topical steroid creams may be beneficial for local skin irritation.

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Prevention

Beyond avoidance of handling millipedes, little deterrence is required.

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Long-Term Monitoring

Follow-up care is generally unnecessary for millipede envenomation unless local complications ensue or the eyes are involved.

In ocular cases, the patient should be examined daily until the eye is healed.

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