title: Centipede bite victims: a review of patients presenting to two emergency departments in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. To review the clinical characteristics of patients presenting after centipede bites in Hong Kong. DESIGN. Descriptive case series. SETTING. Emergency departments of two public hospitals in Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Patients presenting after centipede bites between 2006 and 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Demographics, time and locations of bites, symptoms and signs, treatments and outcomes. RESULTS. A total of 46 relevant patient records were retrieved. The bites were frequently at night, indoors, on lower limbs, and consistently resulted in pain. The majority of the victims were treated with analgesia, anti-histamines, and antibiotics. One patient developed necrosis and five re-attended for delayed pruritus and relapsed/recurrent swelling. CONCLUSIONS. Centipede bites are usually uncomplicated, but may lead to necrosis or delayed hypersensitive reactions.
authors: Department of Accident and Emergency, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. funght@ha.org.hk
authors: H T
authors: HT
authors: Fung
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Lam
authors: O F
authors: OF
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001181:Arthropods; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D013256:Steroids