Centipede bite

Last updated
Centipede bite
Scolopendra fg02.JPG
Underside of Scolopendra cingulata , showing the forcipules

A centipede bite is an injury resulting from the action of a centipede's forcipules, stinger-like appendages that pierce the skin and inject venom into the wound. Such a wound is not strictly speaking a bite, as the forcipules are a modified first pair of legs rather than true mouthparts. Clinically, the wound is viewed as a cutaneous condition characterized by paired hemorrhagic marks that form a chevron shape caused by the paired forcipules. [1]

Contents

The centipede's venom causes pain and swelling in the area of the bite, and may cause other reactions throughout the body. The majority of bites are not life-threatening to humans and present the greatest risk to children and those who develop allergic reactions. [2] [3]

Symptoms and signs

Symptoms which are most likely to develop include: [4]

Other symptoms such as hardening of the skin and tissue death may also occur. [5] In rare cases, Wells syndrome may also develop. [6]

Treatment

Centipedes bites, while painful, rarely cause severe health complications in people. Centipede venoms are heat-labile, and warm-water immersion may help reduce pain and swelling. Icing also helps. [7]

Society and culture

Naturalist Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre reported that his dog developed a serious ulcer after a centipede bite during travels in Mauritius. [8]

YouTube personality Coyote Peterson has been intentionally bitten by Scolopendra heros (giant desert centipede) and declares that the pain caused by the bite is worse than a bullet ant sting. [9] [10]

Muay Thai fighter Dokmaipa Por Pongsawang died after a bite from an arthropod described as a takhap (large centipede). [11] Taiwanese folk musician Difang Duana's death was accelerated by a centipede bite he suffered six months earlier. [12] Both Pongsawang and Duana were diabetic. [11] [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown recluse spider</span> Species of spider with venomous bite native to US

The brown recluse is a recluse spider with necrotic venom. Similar to those of other recluse spiders, their bites sometimes require medical attention. The brown recluse is one of three spiders in North America with dangerous venom, the others being the black widow and the Chilean recluse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centipede</span> Many-legged arthropods with elongated bodies

Centipedes are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) creatures with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no species of centipede has exactly 100 legs; the number of pairs of legs is an odd number that ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs.

<i>Scutigera coleoptrata</i> Species of arthropod

Scutigera coleoptrata, also known as the house centipede, is a species of centipede that is typically yellowish-grey and has up to 15 pairs of long legs. Originating in the Mediterranean region, it has spread to other parts of the world, where it can live in human homes. It is an insectivore; it kills and eats other arthropods, such as insects and arachnids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stinger</span> Sharp organ capable of injecting venom

A stinger is a sharp organ found in various animals capable of injecting venom, usually by piercing the epidermis of another animal.

<i>Scolopendra heros</i> Species of centipede

Scolopendra heros, commonly known as the Arizona desert centipede, giant desert centipede, giant Sonoran centipede, Texas black-tailed centipede, Texas redheaded centipede, and giant redheaded centipede, is a species of North American centipede found in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bee sting</span> Puncture wound caused by a bees stinger

A bee sting is the wound and pain caused by the stinger of a female bee puncturing skin. Bee stings differ from insect bites, with the venom of stinging insects having considerable chemical variation. The reaction of a person to a bee sting may vary according to the bee species. While bee stinger venom is slightly acidic and causes only mild pain in most people, allergic reactions may occur in people with allergies to venom components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese red-headed centipede</span> Subspecies of centipede

The Chinese red-headed centipede, also known as the Chinese red head, is a centipede from East Asia. It averages 20 cm (8 in) in length and lives in damp environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spider bite</span> Bite caused by a spider

A spider bite, also known as arachnidism, is an injury resulting from the bite of a spider. The effects of most bites are not serious. Most bites result in mild symptoms around the area of the bite. Rarely they may produce a necrotic skin wound or severe pain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latrodectism</span> Medical condition

Latrodectism is the illness caused by the bite of Latrodectus spiders. Pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating are the symptoms of latrodectism.

<i>Scolopendra subspinipes</i> Species of centipede

Scolopendra subspinipes is a species of very large centipede found throughout southeastern Asia. One of the most widespread and common species in the genus Scolopendra, it is also found on virtually all land areas around and within the Indian Ocean, all of tropical and subtropical Asia from Russia to the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia, Australia, South and Central America, the Caribbean islands, and possibly parts of the southern United States, but how much of this range is natural and how much due to human introduction is unclear. With a wide geographic range and numerous color variations, the species is known by many common names, including jungle centipede, orange-legged centipede, Hawaiian centipede, and Vietnamese centipede.

<i>Scolopendra</i> Genus of centipedes

Scolopendra is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ant venom</span> Medical condition

Ant venom is any of, or a mixture of, irritants and toxins inflicted by ants. Most ants spray or inject a venom, the main constituent of which is formic acid only in the case of subfamily Formicinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stingray injury</span> Injury from a stingrays barbed tail

A stingray injury is caused by the venomous tail spines, stingers or dermal denticles of rays in the order Myliobatiformes, most significantly those belonging to the families Dasyatidae, Urotrygonidae, Urolophidae, and Potamotrygonidae. Stingrays generally do not attack aggressively or even actively defend themselves. When threatened, their primary reaction is to swim away. However, when attacked by predators or stepped on, the stinger in their tail is whipped up. This is normally ineffective against sharks, their main predator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthropod bites and stings</span> Medical condition

Many species of arthropods can bite or sting human beings. These bites and stings generally occur as a defense mechanism or during normal arthropod feeding. While most cases cause self-limited irritation, medically relevant complications include envenomation, allergic reactions, and transmission of vector-borne diseases.

<i>Scolopendra morsitans</i> Species of centipede

Scolopendra morsitans, also known as the Tanzanian blue ringleg or red-headed centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. S. morsitans is the type species for the genus Scolopendra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andaman cobra</span> Species of snake

The Andaman cobra or Andaman spitting cobra is a species of cobra endemic to the Andaman Islands of India. The name of this cobra comes from the Islands itself. The species has a very potent venom, and is capable of “spitting”, although this defensive behavior is very rare and the aim is poor and not as efficient as “true spitting cobras”.

RhTx is a small peptide toxin from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, also called the Chinese red-headed centipede. RhTx binds to the outer pore region of the temperature regulated TRPV1 ion channel, preferably in activated state, causing a downwards shift in the activation threshold temperature, which leads to the immediate onset of heat pain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dokmaipa Por Pongsawang</span> Thai Muay Thai fighter (1968–2020)

Chamnien Moonkasorn, known professionally as Dokmaipa Por.Pongsawang, was a Thailand Muay Thai fighter. He was a two-division Lumpinee Stadium champion who was famous in the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed "The Powerful Southpaw", he was especially known for his devastating left kicks.

<i>Scolopendra sumichrasti</i> Species of centipede

Scolopendra sumichrasti is a species of arthropod; a scolopendrid centipede found in Latin America.

References

  1. James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN   0-7216-2921-0.
  2. "Centipede Bite". Orkin. 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  3. Sean P. Bush; Bradley O. King; Robert L. Norris; Scott A. Stockwell (2001). "Centipede envenomation". Wilderness & Environmental Medicine . 12 (2): 93–99. doi: 10.1580/1080-6032(2001)012[0093:CE]2.0.CO;2 . PMID   11434497.
  4. "Do Centipedes Bite? | Get Rid of Centipedes | Orkin".
  5. "Centipede bites: Effects and treatment" . Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  6. "Scolopendra - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  7. "Centipede Stings".
  8. Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, Voyage à l'Isle de France, à l'Isle de Bourbon, au Cap de Bonne-Espérance, etc. avec des observations nouvelles sur la nature et sur les hommes (Paris: 1773), p. 128.
  9. Centipede Bite Worse Than ALL Stings?! , retrieved 2021-12-30
  10. "This Maniac Let a Giant Centipede Give Him One of the World's Most Painful Bug Bites". 20 December 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Muay Thai champ dies from bite blamed on monster centipede". Coconuts Thailand. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  12. 1 2 Huang, Sandy (March 30, 2002). "Amis singer Difang passes away". Taipei Times . Retrieved 2012-04-19.