Outbreak of caterpillar dermatitis caused by airborne hairs of the mistletoe browntail moth (Euproctis edwardsi).
Caterpillars may be an under-recognised cause of skin and eye reactions. We report a four-month outbreak of recurrent papulourticarial rash among staff and visitors at a community centre. Caterpillar of the mistletoe browntail moth The cause was eventually diagnosed as airborne hairs from (Euproctis edwardsi). caterpillars of the mistletoe browntail moth (Euproctis edwardsi), which infested a eucalypt tree growing in front of the centre. To our knowledge, this is the first clear case of airborne caterpillar hairs causing dermatitis in an indoor environment.
Balit
C R
CR
NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital, Sydney. CorrineB@chw.edu.au
Ptolemy
H C
HC
Geary
M J
MJ
Russell
R C
RC
Isbister
G K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin