While some caterpillars are harmless and funny-looking, others may actually bite you. Caterpillar bites can cause minor discomfort or trigger a truly dangerous allergic reaction. For this reason, you should clean the affected area and then see a doctor if the allergic reaction worsens. However, most people recover easily from a caterpillar bite.
Clean the affected area
If you still have the caterpillar on your skin, you will have to remove it without using your hands. Use tweezers, pliers, or thick gloves to lift it up. This is essential, as it could sting you again if you try to move it using your fingers. Also, if you see a stinger, you should use tweezers to remove it.
Afterwards, you will need to place an adhesive tape over the bite and then remove it quickly (as if it were a strip of depilatory wax). This way, the tape will stick with any poisonous hair or spines that are still on your skin. This step is also important, since you will be able to minimize the symptoms of the sting.
Lastly, use soap and water to thoroughly cleanse the skin . Likewise, you should clean your hands thoroughly in case they have come into contact with the poison or the stings of the caterpillar. Great care!
Treat the symptoms
If you feel very itchy or sore, you could apply an antihistamine cream. Sometimes antihistamine creams are not effective in relieving sting symptoms, so you should go to the pharmacy or doctor if in doubt.
In case you don’t have cream, another option is baking soda. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one tablespoon of warm water, making a paste. Afterward, apply it generously to your skin and leave it on for a couple of minutes. This mixture should reduce itching and discomfort.
After applying the baking soda cream or paste, you should put a cold compress on the sting area. Put a bag of ice or frozen vegetables on the bite area for ten to fifteen minutes. Afterward, remove the compress and use it every two hours if the pain persists.
See your doctor if symptoms get worse
If you suffer from severe blisters on the skin or the symptoms worsen (shortness of breath, persistent bleeding, vomiting or nausea) you should see a doctor immediately. Be aware that although most people recover normally, you could have a truly dangerous allergic reaction.
