Poisoning after eating caterpillar

The caterpillar is many times more toxic than the herbicide Paraquat (a fast-acting herbicide). Illustration photo: BVCC

After eating fried caterpillars for 30 minutes, Mr. N.D.T had symptoms of nausea, stomachache, numbness of the tongue and face, weakness in the limbs, and blood in the urine.

After the above symptoms appeared, the patient went to a local medical facility and was diagnosed with botulism poisoning and transferred to the 108 Central Military Hospital in a state of severe fatigue, muscle weakness in all four limbs, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure.

According to Dr. Pham Dang Hai - Head of the Department of Internal Medicine Resuscitation and Anti-Poison (108 Central Military Hospital), the Ban Mao worm (also known as Ban Mao, Ban Manh) contains the toxic substance Cantharidin. With unscientific rumors that eating Ban Mao worms helps increase sexual function, many men have eaten this insect, leading to poisoning. The initial symptoms of Cantharidin poisoning are blisters on the skin upon contact, followed by damage to the digestive tract mucosa, damage to multiple organs, and even death.

After 2 weeks of intensive medical resuscitation, fluid infusion, non-specific detoxification, and close monitoring of organ function, patient N.D.T.'s condition stabilized, symptoms of muscle weakness in all four limbs improved, kidney function returned to normal and he was discharged from the hospital.

The caterpillar is a type of bug that resembles a stink bug and is highly toxic and can lead to poisoning if used incorrectly. In Vietnam, the caterpillar is often found on bean stems (also known as bean worms).

The Ban Mieu beetle is a type of beetle, black in color, small in body, about 1.5 - 3cm long, about 0.4 - 0.6cm wide. The head of the Ban Mieu beetle is heart-shaped, has a small vertical groove in the middle of the head, has 11 segments and black, thread-like antennae. In Vietnam, the Ban Mieu beetle often lives wild in many areas including hills and plains.

Source: https://laodong.vn/suc-khoe/nguoi-benh-ngo-doc-sau-khi-an-sau-ban-mieu-1358803.ldo