Biomaterial Database

Caterpillar induced kerato-conjunctivitis. 1993

I Vissenberg, and P Raus, and T Van Tittelboom, and P Dockx, and M J Tassignon

Department of Ophtalmology, University Hospital of Antwerp.

Caterpillar hairs disseminated by the wind can cause serious ocular problems in man. Although this ocular injury was already described in the past century, caterpillar keratoconjunctivitis remains occasional. A recent case of caterpillar keratoconjunctivitis will be described. The conjunctiva as well as the surrounding skin was involved in a huge erythematous rash. Since caterpillar hairs are equipped with barbed hooks, they can easily penetrate soft tissue and thus are very difficult to remove. Recurrent inflammatory reactions lasting for months and resulting in a granulomatous disease, is the rule. The name of keratitis nodosum was given to the granulomatous reaction, secondary to the presence of caterpillar hairs in corneal tissue.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007313	Insecta	Members of the phylum ARTHROPODA composed or organisms characterized by division into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. They are the dominant group of animals on earth with several hundred thousand different kinds. Three orders, HEMIPTERA; DIPTERA; and SIPHONAPTERA; are of medical interest in that they cause disease in humans and animals. (From Borror et al., An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 4th ed, p1).	Insects,Insect
D007637	Keratoconjunctivitis	Simultaneous inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.	Keratoconjunctivitides
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D003131	Combined Modality Therapy	The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used.	Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D005129	Eye Foreign Bodies	Inanimate objects that become enclosed in the eye.	Eye Foreign Object,Eye Foreign Body,Eye Foreign Objects,Foreign Bodies, Eye,Foreign Body, Eye,Foreign Object, Eye,Foreign Objects, Eye
D005148	Facial Dermatoses	Skin diseases involving the FACE.	Favre-Racouchot Syndrome,Nodular Elastoidosis,Facial Dermatosis,Nodular Elastosis,Dermatoses, Facial,Dermatosis, Facial,Elastoidoses, Nodular,Elastoidosis, Nodular,Elastoses, Nodular,Elastosis, Nodular,Favre Racouchot Syndrome,Nodular Elastoidoses,Nodular Elastoses,Syndrome, Favre-Racouchot
D005260	Female		Females
D006099	Granuloma	A relatively small nodular inflammatory lesion containing grouped mononuclear phagocytes, caused by infectious and noninfectious agents.	Granulomas
D006197	Hair	A filament-like structure consisting of a shaft which projects to the surface of the SKIN from a root which is softer than the shaft and lodges in the cavity of a HAIR FOLLICLE. It is found on most surfaces of the body.	Fetal Hair,Hair, Fetal,Lanugo,Fetal Hairs,Hairs,Hairs, Fetal