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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: gatrapper on August 31, 2014, 08:27:12 PM

Title: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: gatrapper on August 31, 2014, 08:27:12 PM
Got nailed by a freaking caterpillar tonight while hanging a treestand with the girlfriend.

I look up and finally ID the caterpillar as a Puss Caterpillar; the most poisonous caterpillar in the United States.

Anyone have some first hand info on how to make this thing stop hurting like sin?

Trapper
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: hookedspur on August 31, 2014, 08:57:34 PM

Found this I hope it helps some

The venom is not well-characterized but it has been shown to possess hemolytic activity, and there is evidence that it is proteinaceous based primarily on its precipitation by 75% saturated ammonium sulfate and the fact that it is inactivated by digestion with proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, pepsin, or chymotrypsin) (Picarelli and Valle 1971).


Eagleman (2008) has reviewed common treatments for puss caterpillar stings. Remedies that may be helpful in some cases include removing broken spine tips from the skin with tape, applying ice packs, use of oral antihistamine, application of hydrocortisone cream to the site of the sting, systemic corticosteroids, and intravenous calcium gluconate.
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: M Sharpe on August 31, 2014, 09:27:11 PM
Go to the doctor.....now! Had a caterpillar to sting me on the forearm several years back. Two shots of benadryl and prednisone and it still felt like someone was trying to tear my arm off at the shoulder!! Finally went to a different hospital where they knocked me out and gave me a prescription for pain-killers for the next day.
I still wear that scar today. You can see every spine!
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: gatrapper on August 31, 2014, 10:22:51 PM
The burning is either slowly stopping or my cramping is so severe that I don't notice the burn as much. Left forearm, biceps, arm pit, and chest muscle are aching and cramping bad. If it's this bad in the morning I may go to the doctor.
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: tomstopper on September 01, 2014, 12:20:11 AM
Quote from: gatrapper on August 31, 2014, 10:22:51 PM
The burning is either slowly stopping or my cramping is so severe that I don't notice the burn as much. Left forearm, biceps, arm pit, and chest muscle are aching and cramping bad. If it's this bad in the morning I may go to the doctor.
Call me a wimp but I would be going to the docs now (this comes from a guy who is deathly allergic to bees and who has had severe allergic reactions to being bitten by a black widow and red ants). If you have ever had an allergic reaction to anything insect related, you might want to go get checked out. Morning is a long time away to be suffering in such pain. Whatever you decide, I hope you're feeling better soon.
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: M Sharpe on September 01, 2014, 08:36:43 AM
Yep!! Could be too late when the throat closes up and you can't breath!!
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: gatrapper on September 01, 2014, 09:54:36 AM
A lot of the burning has gone, but I still have a lot of cramping in the arm.  Took 800mg ibuprofen, if that doesn't help I'm going to the doctors.
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: Deputy 14 on September 02, 2014, 07:32:55 PM
I think I read this post on trap talk on Facebook.
How ya healing up?
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: gatrapper on September 06, 2014, 07:39:27 PM
After 72 hours the pain subsided. The first 24 hours were pretty painful. Glad I am good now. :jesus-cross:
Title: Re: Puss Caterpillar Bite-Holy Lord
Post by: tomstopper on September 06, 2014, 08:13:12 PM
Glad all is good now.....