TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparisons of ice packs, hot water immersion, and analgesia injection for the treatment of centipede envenomations in Taiwan
AU - Chaou, Chung Hsien
AU - Chen, Chian Kuang
AU - Chen, Jih Chang
AU - Chiu, Te Fa
AU - Lin, Chih Chuan
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Objective. To compare the effectiveness of ice packs and hot water immersion for the treatment of centipede envenomations. Methods. Sixty patients envenomated by centipedes were randomized into three groups and were treated with ice packs, hot water immersion, or analgesia injection. The visual analog score (VAS) for pain was measured before the treatment and 15 min afterward. Demographic data and data on local and systemic effects after centipede bites were collected. The VAS scores and the pain decrease (ΔVAS) were compared between the three groups. Results. All patients suffered from pain at the affected sites; other local effects included redness (n=49, 81.7), swelling (n=32, 53.3), heat (n=14, 23.3), itchiness (n=5, 8.3), and bullae formation (n=3, 5.0). Rare systemic effects were reported. All three groups had similar VAS scores before and after treatment. They also had similar effectiveness in reducing pain caused by centipedes bites (ΔVAS 2.55 ± 1.88, 2.33 ± 1.78, and 1.55 ± 1.68, with ice packs, analgesia, and hot water immersion, respectively, p=0.165). Conclusion. Ice packs, hot water immersion, and analgesics all improved the pain from centipede envenomation. Ice pack treatment is a safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive method for pre-hospital management in patients with centipede envenomation.
AB - Objective. To compare the effectiveness of ice packs and hot water immersion for the treatment of centipede envenomations. Methods. Sixty patients envenomated by centipedes were randomized into three groups and were treated with ice packs, hot water immersion, or analgesia injection. The visual analog score (VAS) for pain was measured before the treatment and 15 min afterward. Demographic data and data on local and systemic effects after centipede bites were collected. The VAS scores and the pain decrease (ΔVAS) were compared between the three groups. Results. All patients suffered from pain at the affected sites; other local effects included redness (n=49, 81.7), swelling (n=32, 53.3), heat (n=14, 23.3), itchiness (n=5, 8.3), and bullae formation (n=3, 5.0). Rare systemic effects were reported. All three groups had similar VAS scores before and after treatment. They also had similar effectiveness in reducing pain caused by centipedes bites (ΔVAS 2.55 ± 1.88, 2.33 ± 1.78, and 1.55 ± 1.68, with ice packs, analgesia, and hot water immersion, respectively, p=0.165). Conclusion. Ice packs, hot water immersion, and analgesics all improved the pain from centipede envenomation. Ice pack treatment is a safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive method for pre-hospital management in patients with centipede envenomation.
KW - Bites and stings
KW - Centipedes
KW - Envenomation
KW - Ice pack
KW - Pain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69149087360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15563650802084821
DO - 10.1080/15563650802084821
M3 - 文章
C2 - 19640231
AN - SCOPUS:69149087360
SN - 1556-3650
VL - 47
SP - 659
EP - 662
JO - Clinical Toxicology
JF - Clinical Toxicology
IS - 7
ER -