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Resurgence of the insect called the red beret: these valuable tips from dermatologist Dr Mohamed Soumah
By Mamadou Yaya Diallo-November 12, 2024
Paederus dermatitis, also called pederosis, is a seasonal disease, due to a toxin contained in the body of the "red beret". It is caused by the crushing of the insect.
Currently, this insect is resurfacing in Guinea, causing burns to the skin in case of contact. To talk about it, a reporter from Guineematin.com gave the floor to Dr. Mohamed Maciré Soumah, dermatologist at the Donka National Hospital. With the doctor, we discussed the symptoms of this pathology, the means of prevention and its management.
Dr Mohamed Maciré Soumah, dermatologist
"Pederosis is a disease caused by an insect. It is due to a toxin that is contained in the insect's body. It is this toxin that is often responsible for all the effects of the disease that can be observed on the skin. This means that when the insect is alive, it does not create a problem. But when it is crushed on the skin, this is what causes the consequences that we observe on the skin. When this toxin comes into contact with the skin, it will cause a break in the bond that ensures cohesion between the different cells of the skin. As soon as these lesions break, it creates a detachment. And so, this is what we observe on the skin in the form of blisters. And aperitifs, it gives way to erosions, which will then become covered by scabs and it sometimes hurts and can make you want to scratch," said the doctor.
Continuing, Dr. Mohamed Maciré Soumah said that pederosis is a dermatosis that manifests itself by the appearance of lesions on the body, following the introduction of bacteria into the skin. To protect yourself from this danger, he advises turning off the light bulbs when going to bed, sleeping under a mosquito net and inspecting your bed and house before sleeping. "To prevent this disease, there are not many ways: they are very simple and less expensive. These insects, you have to know their biology. They are insects that are attracted to the light of the bulbs. Which means that at night, as soon as the bulbs are turned on in the compound, they come. So, by coming into contact with the light, they enter the compounds and colonize the beds, the armchairs and they try to walk on the skin. And when there is something on our skin, we tend to crush it. As soon as you crush it, the juice contained in the insect's body, which is called cantharin, is what causes this toxicity in the skin and causes dermatitis called paederus dermatitis. So, you have to turn off the light bulbs at night when you are not in the house. Then, you have to sleep under a mosquito net. You have to inspect your bed and your house carefully before sleeping. Because it is an insect that does not fly but crawls. And when it lands on your skin, you have to remove it very delicately. As the other one says, negotiate its departure. But if you do it with force until you crush it, then you create problems for yourself," said the doctor.
Once you crush the insect, Dr. Soumah recommends simple practices for management. However, he advises consulting a dermatologist to avoid complications. “The management is simple. First, as soon as you notice that you have crushed it on your skin, the first thing to do is to wash your hand with plain water or sometimes with soap. That alone eliminates a significant amount of the insect's toxic substance. Then, you don't have the reflex to do it until the lesions set in, you should not apply anything on the part. Because we see that people put okra, honey... After rinsing, if you notice that the effect does not regress, you should consult a dermatologist. He will be able to suggest a treatment that could reduce the lesions. Why consult a doctor? Of course, this disease is known, but it can stimulate many other skin diseases. When things are not sorted out, we tend to put everything down to the insect, when it is not the insect. This insect does not kill. On the other hand, there are other diseases that can stimulate the damage caused by this insect and that can occur on a terrain that can be fatal. This is the case with Shingles. This is why we ask to see a dermatologist to sort things out," he says.
Furthermore, Dr Soumah urged people not to panic. "I would tell our fellow citizens not to panic. Because this is a phenomenon that is a sign of climate change. We will be faced with this health problem in a cyclical way. We just need to respect the preventive measures," he suggested.
Malick DIAKITE for Guineematin.com
https://guineematin.com/2024/11/12/...x-conseils-du-dermatologue-dr-mohamed-soumah/
