title: Bites caused by giant water bugs belonging to Belostomatidae family (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) in humans: a report of seven cases.
abstract: We report 7 cases of patients bitten by giant water bugs, large predatory insects belonging to the Belostomatidae family (Hemiptera, Heteroptera). These insects have toxic saliva capable of provoking intense pain and paralysis in vertebrates. Victims experienced intense, excruciating pain and 1 manifested hypoesthesia in the forearm. Bites by Belostomatidae are often reported by clinicians working in areas where these insects live, but there are no detailed case reports in the medical literature. There are no specific treatment modalities known to be effective, making prevention an important strategy.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu-UNESP, Univ Estadual Paulista and Hospital Vital Brazil, Instituto Butantan, Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil. haddadjr@fmb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Vidal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Elisabeth F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Lucélia Nobre
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020062:Heteroptera; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult