Centipede Bite!

[KiminPL]

quote:

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Originally posted by rainyjim

I would consult a doctor and be very cautious when soliciting medical advice on an online forum. I would avoid using meat tenderizer or ammonia to treat open wounds. Best of luck.

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Best advice yet!
An acquaintance waited days before seeing a doctor and the wound had become a more serious matter.

[Punaperson]

I'm very allergic to centipede bites, so a few suggestions from experience:

A thick paste of baking soda with water applied to the bite will temporarily relieve the pain. It needs to be cleaned off and re-applied fresh every 15 minutes or so. ( Works for bee stings too ).

If the swelling keeps expanding, see a doctor / urgent care immediately.

If the swelling persists for more than 24 hours, see a doctor / urgent care for some heavy duty anti-histamine or cortisone cream.

Get a prescription for an Epipen ( sp? ) if it turns out you're allergic, as every bite will have a stronger and stronger reaction.

Longer term, put up with the hassle of feral chickens around your house, as they think centipedes are delicious and will clear your yard of them in short order. After years of having to be extremely cautious every time I lifted a flower pot, rock or board because I was wary of being bitten again, a few months of letting chickens hang around made them extinct in the vicinity. ( There is always a trade-off: no fear of centipedes, but now I do have to deal with chicken sh#t. Feeding them a few handfuls of uncooked oatmeal every other day keeps their poop less smelly and runny, and makes it much easier to deal with. )

[terracore]

There is always the "stun gun" cure: http://punaweb.org/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=1&TOPIC_ID=13520&

I have used this device on mosquito bites: https://www.amazon.com/Therapik-No-Model-Mosquito-Reliever/dp/B00820TRBS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1506735923&sr=8-1&keywords=Therapik+Mosquito+Bite+Reliever&refinements=p_85:2470955011&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=pw016-20&linkId=5ebf400f5daacdce84e3c1b6b952e47d

It definitely works on mosquito bites, but if you use it just a few seconds too short, its less effective, and a few seconds too long and it can burn your skin.

ETA: "Therapik® is based on a very simple, scientifically proven principle. Most insect venom is thermolabile (sensitive to heat). Therapik®'s patented technology delivers heat in the specific temperature range necessary to neutralize the venom from over 20,000 different species of insects and sea creatures. The Therapik Mosquito Bite Relievers help provide instant relief from the pain and itch experienced from mosquito bites, bee stings, fire ants, jellyfish stings, and bites from up to 20,000 other species of insects. This mosquito bite reliever is a handheld device that creates a soothing heat (terracore edit: IT IS NOT SOOTHING WHEN YOU USE THE DEVICE, the soothing comes later) that, when applied to the affected area, relieves pain and itch from insect bites and stings. Use these handheld mosquito bite relievers for immediate relief. Requires one 9V Battery (Not Included). "

I'd love to find out if something like this works on centipede stings.

[ElysianWort]

Unless you do have some sort of allergy to it and swelling becomes a serious issue, really the only danger of these bites is when/if they get infected after a few days. I've been bit. Keep the area clean, it'll hurt and burn first but then turn to itching. It should stop itching after 4 or 5 days. Epsom salt soaks couldn't hurt.
Not sure about buying a device that applies heat to the area. Although it did look neat, I might just use a hair dryer to accomplish the same.
I laughed when I read about the meat tenderizer because I pictured someone beating on their bug bite with a small spiked mallet. I did realize though...just herbs and enzymes, a different type of tenderizer.
I also wouldn't recommend slicing yourself with an exacto knife and rubbing herbs into it. Although I'm a believer in plant medicines, save that for something you would do if you had no other options.

[hilodiver]

Thanks for all the advice! I've also heard of using meat tenderizer. It works great on Portuguese man of war stings but I decided to leave this wound alone other than soap and water see what happens. The swelling was minor and the pain was tolerable after several hours. Now, 24 hours later, the bite area feels bruised but no major pain. I've learned my lesson, don't walk around at night in my slippers!

Aloha!

[leilaniguy]

And bang your shoes together before you put them on. I've heard more than one person say they got bit putting shoes on.

[alaskyn66]

quote:

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Originally posted by hilodiver

Thanks for all the advice! I've also heard of using meat tenderizer. It works great on Portuguese man of war stings but I decided to leave this wound alone other than soap and water see what happens. The swelling was minor and the pain was tolerable after several hours. Now, 24 hours later, the bite area feels bruised but no major pain. I've learned my lesson, don't walk around at night in my slippers!

Aloha!

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Just watch for infection .. it'll pass.

[Durian Fiend]

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Originally posted by hilodiver

Thanks for all the advice!

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Which you wisely ignored! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[TomK]

Damn, just when I was going to suggest ear candling...

[ElysianWort]

quote:

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Originally posted by leilaniguy

And bang your shoes together before you put them on. I've heard more than one person say they got bit putting shoes on.

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In my younger years, with long hair, I once put a beanie on after all showered and cleaned up and felt something move up there. At first I just figured it was a lock of my hair moving as I put on the cap. Then I felt it again and threw the beanie off. A 10 inch monster pede all red and black and menacing fell to the ground.

Now with having to deal with fire ants I put diatiomacious earth all around under the house and surrounding the pillars. I think that has kept away centipedes too.