Multiple organ failure caused by poisonous contact with a Lonomia sp caterpillar. Case report

Abstract

Introduction: Lonomic accidents have become of great interest as they represent a public health problem in rural communities. These accidents are challenging for health personnel given their multiple associated complications, difficult di­agnosis and therapeutic variants.Case presentation: This is the case of a 41-year-old male patient who had contact with a cater­pillar of the genus Lonomia sp. He presented with symptoms of bleeding and subsequent multiple organ failure that resolved with the use of antilonomic serum.Discussion: The patient presented with symp­toms that progressed to multiple organ failure and associated hemorrhagic syndrome due to the difficulties for diagnosis. He required ther­apeutic intervention in a primary care institution with subsequent need for treatment in a more complex center considering the deterioration and non-availability of the antilonomic serum.Conclusions: Based on in-hospital medical intervention strategies, the administration of the lonomic serum and the patient’s follow-up through the system, it was possible to con­firm the improvement of his health condition and discharge him. It is important to stress the knowledge of the health professionals who treat these cases in rural areas and the availability of the serum.