Blistering beetle dermatitis: An outbreak

Abstract

Background: Blister beetles, which are abundant in Madhya Pradesh and Punjab cause peculiar skin lesions. We came across large number of such cases. Method: This descriptive study comprised 46 cases of Blistering beetle dermatitis who presented to skin OPD, over a period of one month from 17 April to 15 May 2002. Result: All cases belonged to one company of soldiers deployed near an agricultural land. Of the total of 245, 46 personnel suffered from blistering beetle dermatitis with an incidence of 18.7%. A thorough epidemiological investigation was undertaken and beetles of Paederus Fucipes were found incriminating. Further spread was effectively controlled by timely spray of Baygon and Malathion over the infested land. Conclusion: In an outbreak of bizarre dermatitis, diagnosis of blistering beetle dermatitis should be kept in mind. Timely diagnosis, epidemiological investigation and insecticide spraying brings down the incidence of new cases.