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Caterpillars: an unusual source of ingestion
R D Pitetti1, D Kuspis, E P Krenzelok
1Department of Pediatrics/Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. pitettr@chplink.chp.edu
Purpose:
To describe a series of patients seen in a pediatric emergency department with adverse effects following an ingestion of a caterpillar.
Methods:
Case series.
Results:
Ten patients presented to the emergency department following ingestion of a caterpillar. Adverse effects ranged from drooling and refusal to drink to diffuse urticaria. Six patients were admitted and five underwent direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy in the operating room. None of the 10 patients had an adverse outcome.
Conclusions:
Previously not described, significant adverse effects can occur following ingestion of a caterpillar. In addition, although not previously reported, the caterpillar of the Hickory Tussock moth can cause adverse effects in humans.