[Paederus dermatitis: apropos of an outbreak in Conakry (Guinea) in November 1989]

Paederus sabaeus is a coleopter of the Staphylinidae family. With its toxins present in the hemolymph (pederin, pseudopederin, pederone), it causes a delayed vesicular inflammatory dermatosis. The contact between skin and toxin is only possible when the insect is injured or killed, which occurs most frequently when it is crushed on the skin. In November 1989, in Conakry, a huge proliferation of this insect was responsible for an epidemic of Paederus dermatitis. The European sailors working in the port of this town were affected preferentially, as well as the entire European population for sociocultural reasons. The clinical picture is very characteristic when the lesions are linear or "kissing lesions" on both sides of the folded part of an articular joint. This dermatosis is more frequent on the uncovered parts of the body. Healing is spontaneous, requiring 7 to 10 days, if there are no further infections.