Centipede bites in Japan.

Five cases of centipede bites are reported. The patients showed erythema in response to swelling, and/or paresis around the sites. They had been bitten by Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans Koch or Scolopendra subspinipes multidens Newport. There was no species-specific reaction to the bite, so the variety of reactions seen was thought to be due to patients' individual differences. Treatment included local anesthesia, systemic and/or topical corticosteroids, and administration of a biscoclaurin alkaloid, as needed according to the severity of the lesions.