House Centipede Bite

House centipede, the one and half-inch elongated insect is no stranger to Michigan homes. These insects that are commonly found in bathrooms can move very quickly as they are equipped with 15-17 pairs of legs. Although they may look scary, do their bites are a cause for worry? It is discussed here:

So, what does a house centipede bite look like? It resembles to that of a snakebite as the site of bite shows two very small holes accompanied by formation of blisters. The insect is equipped with sharp claws (fangs) just below the head. When it bites, it sinks the two fangs into the skin to inject toxin. Some of the symptoms are given below:

The site of bite causes mild to moderate pain that usually remains confined to the affected area. The stung area may also trigger itchy sensation and also appear swollen.

Usually, these insects are small but if a large one creeps into the house and bites, blisters, irritation and pain, it is going to cause, will be on a greater scale. A large centipede insect can cause substantial swelling and completely mar the appearance of superficial skin.

The pain usually goes away within 4-5 hours but in some cases the discomfort might keep on troubling the person for several days.

In rare cases, being bitten by a house centipede can become a worrisome issue. Severe symptoms are usually associated with people who are hypersensitive and intolerant towards insect bites. Babies, infants, and small children are more susceptible to serious reactions from the insect bite. These are discussed here.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Raised body temperature
• Elevated blood pressure
• Headache
• Heart palpitations
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Severe irritation and itching

Usually treatment revolves around some home remedies and OTC medicines that help to resolve the issue. Firstly, it is necessary to clean the site of bite. For this, make use of antibacterial soap and rinse it with warm water. This will ensure that the affected site does not contract a secondary infection.

After cleaning, dry the wound properly. This is followed by topical application of numbing agent like benzocaine to reduce the pain. In order to decrease the itching sensation, one may apply hydrocortisone creams.

A small child bitten by this insect must be looked after seriously and demands an urgent appointment with a doctor. The symptoms may aggravate rapidly in children. So, apart from implementing the treatment, one should immediately consult a doctor. Also, if adults feel that the symptoms are not improving, talking to a health care provider is essential.

Finding the insect in the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom indicates too much presence of termites, bedbugs and cockroaches. This is because, these insects form the staple food for the centipede. You can also use various pest control methods to eliminate bedbugs and termites.

One can also use boric acid that target the centipedes. Sprinkle boric acid powder in moist areas where they commonly occur. It is an inexpensive way to kill this menace.

As the insect prefers to stay in damp environment, one can install dehumidifiers to reduce the level of moisture in the air. As far as possible, keep the bathroom, basements, garage and closets dry. These insects do not prefer to live in dry environment and so they are likely to move out of your house and search for other places.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.