ATYPICAL PRESENTATION FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO PINE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR (THAUMETOPOEA PITYOCAMPA) AT CHILDREN IN NORTHERN ISRAEL
Nasser Wael*, Chen G., Nasser Suzan, Avi On, Fairose Nasser and Abozaid S.
ABSTRACT
The pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is considered an emerging pine pest in Mediterranean countries, with high medical relevance. In recent years, adverse reactions reports in humans following contact with T. pityocampa have been increasingly reported.[1] If they come in contact with skin, they can cause a variety of reactions, notably contact urticaria and papular rashes. Several cases of anaphylactic reactions have been reported in recent years. Mechanical (irritative) mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of lesions, or immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic hypersensitivity reactions may be implicated when the process is rapid, recurrent, and progressively more severe.[2] We reported two pediatric cases of orofacial edema and periorbital cellulitis following exposure to pine processionary caterpillar.
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