Lepidopterism Explained

Specialty:	Dermatology

Lepidopterism is an irritant contact dermatitis caused by irritating caterpillar or moth hairs coming into contact with the skin or mucosa.^{[1] [2]} When referring to the cause, moth dermatitis and caterpillar dermatitis are commonly used; Caripito itch (known as papillonite in French)^{[3] [4]} is an older name referring to the moth dermatitis caused by some Hylesia species.^[5]

See also

• Lonomia
• Oak processionary which may cause airborne problems
• Millipede burn
• List of cutaneous conditions

Further reading

• Hossler EW . Caterpillars and moths . Dermatol Ther . 22 . 4 . 353–66 . 2009 . 19580579 . 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2009.01247.x . 31799282 . free .
• Hossler EW . Caterpillars and moths: Part II. Dermatologic manifestations of encounters with Lepidoptera . J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. . 62 . 1 . 13–28; quiz 29–30 . January 2010 . 20082887 . 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.08.061 . free .
• Hossler EW . Caterpillars and moths: Part I. Dermatologic manifestations of encounters with Lepidoptera . J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. . 62 . 1 . 1–10; quiz 11–2 . January 2010 . 20082886 . 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.08.060 . free .
• Katzenellenbogen . I. . 1955 . Caterpillar Dermatitis as an Occupational Disease . Dermatologica. 111 . 2 . 99–106 . 10.1159/000256344. 13277355 .
• 10.1016/S0338-9898(02)80059-2 . Werno . J. . Lesthelle . S. . Doerman . F. . Vincendeau . P. . Envenimations par les lépidoptères . Revue Française des Laboratoires . 2002 . 342 . 35 . 2002.

External links

• Caterpillar envenomation on eMedicine
• Stinging catepillars on entomology dept University of Kentucky

Notes and References

1. Rosen T . Caterpillar dermatitis . Dermatol Clin . 8 . 2 . 245–52 . April 1990 . 2191798 . 10.1016/S0733-8635(18)30496-0.
2. Lee D, Pitetti RD, Casselbrant ML . Oropharyngeal manifestations of lepidopterism . Arch. Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg. . 125 . 1 . 50–2 . January 1999 . 9932587 . 10.1001/archotol.125.1.50.
3. Thiéry G, Adam S, Coulet O, André N, Meynard JB, Thiéry S . Papillonite . fr . Med Trop (Mars) . 68 . 1 . 27–8 . February 2008 . 18478767 .
4. Hylesia metabus, agent de la papillonite en Guyane française . Vassal . J.M. . Dominique Dauthuille . Jean-François Silvain . 1986 . Cayenne . SEPANGUY . Le littoral guyanais : fragilité de l'environnement . Ier congrès régional de la SEPANGUY; Xe colloque SEPANRIT . 125–130 .
5. Dinehart SM, Archer ME, Wolf JE, McGavran MH, Reitz C, Smith EB . Caripito itch: dermatitis from contact with Hylesia moths . J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. . 13 . 5 Pt 1 . 743–7 . November 1985 . 4078069 . 10.1016/S0190-9622(85)70216-2 .