A retrospective study of centipede bites in Guadeloupe, West Indies: epidemiology, medical and surgical management

Introduction In the Caribbean, centipede bites are well known for their painful symptoms. Although these bites are common, they rarely result in medical consultations. This study aimed to describe the frequency, clinical presentation, and management of centipede bites presenting to the emergency department.Methods A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted over 7 years (2015–2021) of all patients presenting to the emergency department for centipede bites. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with severe envenomation requiring hospitalization (hospitalized group) and those with envenomation who were discharged after treatment (outpatient group). Clinical data, and medical and surgical treatments were analyzed using univariate methods.Results A total of 377 patients were included; 53% were under 18 years old, and 56.2% were male. Most bites involved the head, hands, or feet. Treatments included analgesics, antihistamines, and antibiotics. Forty-three patients (11.4%) were hospitalized; 21 underwent surgery (48.8% of the hospitalized group; 5.6% of all cases). Hospitalized cases were older (40.5 years versus 12.5 years; P