Workup
Laboratory Studies
Laboratory studies are generally not required for caterpillar stings unless evidence of coagulopathy is present, as in some New World caterpillars in the family Saturniidae (Lonomia species). Those that may be warranted include the following:
-
Hematology: CBC
-
Coagulation studies: Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen level, fibrin degradation products, D-dimer assay, urine bedside test for blood
-
Renal function studies: Creatinine, BUN
Next:
Imaging Studies
A chest radiograph is reasonable if the patient has significant respiratory symptoms.
Previous
Media Gallery
-
Caterpillar envenomations. Puss caterpillar or asp. Photo courtesy of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center.
-
Distinguishing dangerous from harmless caterpillars can be difficult, and handling any caterpillar with bare skin should be avoided. These are harmless tomato hornworm caterpillars (larval form of the five-spotted hawk moth [Manduca quinquemaculata])
of
2