Buzz
While they may appear interesting and cute, caterpillars can actually sting humans. A caterpillar sting may cause minor symptoms or lead to a dangerous allergic reaction. To treat a caterpillar sting, you need to clean the sting site, manage symptoms, and consult a healthcare professional if symptoms become severe. This will help you recover more quickly after being stung by a caterpillar.
Steps
Clean the Sting Area
Remove the Caterpillar without touching it. If the caterpillar is still on your skin, use tweezers, forceps, or thick gloves to remove it. Never touch the caterpillar with bare hands as you may get stung again.
- The sting from a caterpillar is caused by tiny, sharp bristles that penetrate the skin. Therefore, avoid using bare hands to touch the body of the caterpillar.
Use tape to remove the sharp bristles from your skin. Use Scotch tape, cloth tape, or something similar. Place the tape over the sting site and quickly pull it off. The tape will stick to any toxic hairs or sharp spines still on your skin. This step is crucial to alleviate symptoms of the sting and prevent further stings.
- You can also use the adhesive side of a gauze bandage to remove the bristles or spines.
Clean the sting site thoroughly. Use soap and warm water to wash the sting area. Additionally, be sure to clean the surrounding skin. Lastly, ensure that you wash your hands well, in case you’ve come into contact with any toxic substance or the stinger from the caterpillar.
Treat the Symptoms
Apply a baking soda and water mixture. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1-2 tablespoons of warm water. Generously apply the mixture to the sting site and leave it for a few minutes. The baking soda mixture helps soothe itching and other discomforts. Reapply the mixture every few hours.
Use hydrocortisone cream. If the baking soda mixture doesn’t relieve the symptoms, wash off the mixture and apply a generous amount of hydrocortisone cream to the sting site and leave it. It may take about an hour for the cream to soothe the sting. Reapply the cream as directed on the product packaging.
Use antihistamine cream. If hydrocortisone cream doesn't work, wash the area and apply a generous amount of antihistamine cream to the sting. Wait about 30 minutes to see if there's any improvement. In many cases, antihistamine cream has proven ineffective in soothing symptoms from caterpillar stings, but it might work for you.
Apply cold compresses. After using baking soda or cream, apply a cold compress to the sting. Place an ice pack or frozen vegetables on the affected area for about 10-20 minutes at a time. Continue applying cold compresses every 1-2 hours.
Medical Treatment
Watch for signs of severe symptoms. Caterpillar stings can cause a wide range of symptoms. Depending on the type of caterpillar and the allergy, symptoms may be mild or severe. Common symptoms include:
- Itching and contact dermatitis, blisters, lines on the skin, small red swelling, pain
- Conjunctivitis if caterpillar hairs fall into the eyes
- Rashes and hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bleeding and kidney failure may occur after contact with the South American Lonomia caterpillar
See a doctor if symptoms worsen. If blisters, large streaks, or a spreading rash appear, you should seek immediate medical attention. This step is crucial as some individuals may experience a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to the caterpillar sting.
Call the Poison Control Center for more information. If you have any questions regarding how to treat a caterpillar sting, contact the Poison Control Center (for example, the Bạch Mai Hospital Poison Control Center) as soon as possible. A specialist will answer the phone and provide recommendations for treating the sting.
Tetanus vaccination. If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last 5-10 years, it is recommended to get a booster within 72 hours of being stung by a caterpillar. The wound or bite could become infected.
Advice
- Avoid touching or handling caterpillars with many hairs or bright colors.
- Do not scratch the sting site.
- Be aware of the geographical area where you were stung and ensure that young children or pets do not go near it. Alert the authorities if there is an unusual increase in the caterpillar population.
- Unless you have received professional training, do not attempt to keep wild insects as pets. If you wish to raise caterpillars into butterflies or moths, you can purchase eggs and rearing equipment from various online sites and special publications.
- Never play with unfamiliar animals or insects. They can pose a danger.
Warning
- Do not allow pets or young children to play with unfamiliar creatures, even with small ones like caterpillars. Teach children to stay away from brightly colored caterpillars with many spines, as vibrant colors and sharp hairs are often a natural sign of toxicity.
- Even if a caterpillar doesn't sting, it can still harm your garden. Look for white caterpillar nests that resemble spider webs on trees, as well as evergreen tree moth cocoons and Gypsy Moths, which are parasites capable of killing plants.
What You'll Need
- Adhesive tape (fabric tape, Scotch tape, clear tape) or pre-made face mask
- Baking soda (bicarbonate) mixed with water
- Ice packs or frozen food (anything cold or frozen works)
- Clean water and soap
- Pain relievers
- Cold compresses
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Antihistamine cream
