title: Outbreak of caterpillar dermatitis caused by airborne hairs of the mistletoe browntail moth (Euproctis edwardsi).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital, Sydney. CorrineB@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Balit
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ptolemy
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Isbister
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin