Centipedes are carnivorous and venomous. They sting and eat their prey, which typically consists of insects and worms. They’re not aggressive towards humans, but may bite you if you provoke them.

Centipede bites can be very painful to people. The larger the centipede, the more painful their bite may be.

All centipedes use venom to kill their prey. Centipede bites rarely cause health complications in humans, and aren’t typically dangerous or fatal. However, some centipedes have venom which produces a variety of toxins, including chemicals such as histamine, serotonin, and cardio-depressant toxin-S.

While it’s rare for centipede bites to have systemic effects, it’s important to know that these toxins can cause potentially serious allergic reactions in people with allergies to bee and wasp stings, as well as significant cardiovascular neurologic effects.

Centipedes bite by puncturing skin with clawed, pointy legs located on their first body segment. They may bite if they’re picked up or handled roughly. They may also bite if you accidentally step on one.

Centipede bites can be identified by two puncture marks where they inject their venom into the skin. The area around the bite may become red and swollen.

The amount of pain you feel will be determined by the amount of venom injected into the bite.

Smaller centipedes deliver very little venom. Their bites may be comparable to bee stings in terms of pain. Larger centipedes may deliver more venom causing intense pain.

Pain, redness, and swelling begin immediately upon being bitten. These symptoms may last anywhere from several hours to several days.

Other symptoms may also occur and could indicate a severe allergic reaction, including :

• fever

• chills

• nausea

• extreme swelling at the site of the bite

• swollen lymph nodes

• heart palpitations

• itching

Centipede bites may look similar to bites from other more dangerous insects. If you aren’t sure what bit you, see a doctor, especially if your symptoms are severe.

If there are no complications, treatment for centipede bites focus on symptom relief, and may be treated at home :

Apply heat to the bite as quickly as possible. Immersing the wound in hot water or using hot compresses dilutes venom. Ice packs can be used to reduce swelling. Use medications to reduce pain, allergic reactions, and inflammation. These include antihistamines, anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Centipede bites are wounds. To avoid infection, use a topical antibiotic and keep the site clean and covered.

If your symptoms are severe or don’t improve within a few days, seek medical help.

Complications from centipede bites may result from infection or from damage to the skin and tissue where the bite occurred. Your doctor may give you a tetanus shot or, if they suspect infection, prescribe antibiotics.

If your symptoms worsen or don’t go away within 48 hours and also if you start running a fever, see red streaks near the wound site, or notice a foul odor, please proceed to see a doctor immediately.

Allergic reactions may also occur. Intense itching, dizziness, hives, or a rash may be signs of an allergic reaction.

If you have swelling of the lips, throat, mouth, or tongue, call your local emergency services or have someone take you to an emergency room immediately.

Centipedes bites, while painful, rarely cause severe health complications in people. At home treatments can be effective at reducing pain and symptoms. If your symptoms worsen, you have signs of infection, or an allergic reaction, seek medical help.

Centipede bites are rare in humans, but when they do happen, they can cause mild to moderate pain.

Some people may experience severe symptoms or allergic reactions from the centipede venom, but these occur only rarely.

Unless the person is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, they will not require treatment for a centipede bite. Anti itch and pain relieving medications can help soothe a person’s symptoms.

The symptoms typically disappear within a few hours or days, and there is a low risk of any long-term consequences.

When a centipede feels threatened, it will pierce the skin of its prey with the pincer like tips of the legs closest to the head, which are called forcipules.

The bite looks like two red marks on the skin, which form a V-shape due to the positioning of the forcipules of the centipede.

Some possible effects of a centipede bite include :

• localized pain

• swelling and redness

• bleeding

• itchiness or burning

• numbness, tingling, and tenderness

• hardening of the skin

• throbbing

• red streaks on the skin

• localized infection

• tissue death

• swelling of the lymph nodes

In extremely rare cases. Trusted Source, there have been reports of more severe symptoms, such as :

• lack of oxygen to the heart muscle

• heart attack

• blood in the urine

• hemoglobin in the urine

• rhabdomyolysis, which is the break down of damaged skeletal muscle tissue

• excessive bleeding

• skin infections

Anaphylactic shock :

Some people may experience an allergic reaction to a centipede bite. Researchers in Thailand described a situation in which a 23-year-old man experienced anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction after a centipede bit him.

An allergic reaction may occur within minutes of receiving a bite. Some of the symptoms of a severe reaction include :

• facial swelling

• generalized hives and rash on the skin

• chest discomfort

• loss of consciousness or responsiveness

• severely low blood pressure, called hypotension

When a centipede bites a person, they inject venom into the skin. The production of the venom takes place in a gland in the forcipule. Centipedes inject venom into their prey to protect and defend themselves.

Researchers have isolated more than 500 components. Trusted Source of centipede venom, but they have only described a few of these.

Some of the components include chemicals that occur naturally in the brain, such as serotonin and histamine. Researchers note that these chemicals do not typically cause neurological effects in humans.

Neurological symptoms (rare)

Rarely, some people may report the following neurological symptoms from a centipede bite :

• headaches

• anxiety

• dizziness

• the feeling of losing consciousness

Few people have reported euphoric feelings, psychological effects, and memory disturbances following a centipede bite.

Treatment :

People may feel anxious when a centipede bites them, due to both the pain of the bite and the appearance of the multi-legged creature. However, in most cases, a person will not need to seek medical attention because a centipede bite is rarely serious.

If a person does see a doctor, the doctor may suggest using treatments to soothe the pain, itchiness, and swelling of the skin. However, the symptoms tend to resolve on their own within a few hours or a few days at most.

Some people may need a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, or an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen. Cortisone cream and antihistamines can also reduce symptoms of allergies.

If a person experiences a severe allergic reaction to a centipede bite, such as an anaphylactic shock, they need immediate medical attention. Doctors treat anaphylactic shock with :

• epinephrine

• intravenous fluids

• intravenous antihistamine

If someone is experiencing anaphylactic shock, epinephrine auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, can reduce the symptoms and prevent death. As centipede bites are uncommon, though, a person may not know that they are allergic to centipede venom until they receive a bite.

Overview :

Not all bites or stings are the same. You will need different first aid treatment and medical care depending on what type of creature has bitten or stung you.

Some species can cause more damage than others. Some people also have allergies that raise the risk of a serious reaction.

First aid treatment :

If someone shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, help them get emergency medical attention and follow the steps in the next section. If they show no signs of a severe reaction, treat the site of the bite or sting for minor symptoms :

• If the insect’s stinger is still embedded in their skin, remove it by gently scraping a flat-edged object, such as a credit card, across their skin. Avoid using tweezers to remove the stinger, since squeezing it may release more venom.

• Wash the area of the bite with soap and water.

• Place a cold compress or ice pack on the area for about 10 minutes at a time to help reduce pain and swelling. Wrap any ice or ice packs in a clean cloth to protect their skin.

• Apply calamine lotion or a paste of baking soda and water to the area several times a day to help relieve itching and pain. Calamine lotion is a type of antihistamine cream.

Emergency treatment for a severe allergic reaction.

If you suspect someone may be having a severe allergic reaction :

• Ask someone else to call 911, or local emergency services, right away. If you’re alone, contact emergency services before you provide other treatment.

• Ask the person whether they carry an epinephrine auto-injector. If they do, retrieve it for them and help them use it according to the label directions.

• Encourage them to remain calm, lie down quietly with their legs elevated, and stay still. If they start to vomit, turn them onto their side to allow the vomit to drain and prevent choking.

• If they become unconscious and stop breathing, begin CPR. Continue it until medical help arrives.

To avoid making matters worse, don’t apply a tourniquet. You should also avoid giving them anything to eat or drink.