Okay, I’m late on this post, but it’s mostly because I got logged out of the blog and could not find the password. So here I am, about two weeks late on this update.
Two weeks minus two days ago, Christine was finishing up on chores in the morning and I looked outside to see Burrito by himself under a tree. We never leave the goats loose unattended so I went out to put him away and passed Christine who was at the outdoor sink washing her arm. She told me that her arm started burning after she reached down to move Burrito who was eating leaves off of a tree.
My heart started pounding…I knew right away what had happened. We went over to the tree and sure enough, there it was. An asp on the branch. Not wasp, an asp. No, not the snake that got Cleopatra…Texas isn’t quite that scary, but almost.
Asps are venomous caterpillars and supposedly this sting is one of the most painful. Many people end up in the hospital because of the pain. Christine said it felt like a chemical burn on her arm; it also spreads to the lymphatic system and causes various lymph nodes to swell and hurt. In her case, her arm pit ached terribly.
Asps aren’t just a Texas thing; they live as far north as New Jersey. Please educate yourself on what to do so that you don’t end up in the hospital. These are especially dangerous to children so please teach them to watch out…cute furry little caterpillars might look like something to pick up and play with but the result is very dangerous and can even cause death sometimes.
If you or a loved one is stung, immediately put a piece of tape on the sting and pull it off to get any of the caterpillar hairs that may be stuck in your skin. They are not always visible to the human eye. Then wash it really well with soap and water. Next apply rubbing alcohol followed by an ice pack. You can also do a baking soda poultice (just baking soda and water) which Christine said really helped with the pain. Benadryl cream is good as well. You may even want to take some Benadryl internally; Christine did not do this. Watch for swelling, nausea, stomach pain, lymph pain, or trouble breathing. The worst symptoms are supposed to subside within 24 hours. Her arm stayed red for several days.
Don’t mess around with it. If it’s bad, go to the hospital.
