A Case of a Centipede Bite

Abstract

Centipedes are grouped in the Pylum Arthropoda, Class Chilopoda, and they can be found in moist environments such as litter or soil and under bark or stones. Most centipedes are nocturnal predators, feeding on insects, spiders, soil mites, nematodes, earthworms, or even small vertebrates. Bites usually cause local pain, erythema, edema, and sometimes systemic symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or pyrexia.A 47-year-old man presented with severe swelling, dysesthesia and vesiculation on the right forearm. Three days before the visit to the hospital, he had been bitten on the right forearm by a centipede while he had been sleeping during night at home. He was treated with antihistamines, antibiotics, systemic corticosteroids, topical steroid ointment and povidone iodine solution, and the lesion resolved without complication after a few days.