Tag: worm bite
Worms that Bite Arms, or “Limb Boring Worms”
We received a very interesting question from a reader in Germany about a worm that may have bitten her mother’s arm – or “sucked upon” her mother’s arm – while she slept. The reader referred to the worm as “limb boring,” which is fitting since the worm evidently did some damage to her mother’s arm, producing an open wound about the size of a 5 pence coin (which is about the size of a dime). The reader initially didn’t believe her mother, thinking she must be mistaken about what happened, but this Christmas she visited her mom, who showed her the scar from the worm bite. Moreover, the reader found a dried worm in a vent near her mother’s bedroom, and the vent was spattered with dry blood. The reader is now unsure what to think, and wrote to us to see if her mother’s story about the biting worm is at all possible.
Worm ‘Bites’ When to Seek Treatment
Worms can cause irritation to the skin if prolonged periods of contact occur, but the irritation is likely from debris or dirt from the ground or the tiny little bristles on worms’ skin that can prick or stick to your skin. This type of skin irritation is rarely cause for concern.
Are Bristleworm Stings Dangerous?
The bristles or “setae” of the bristleworm are so tough that they can penetrate skin, causing a painful “sting.” Depending on the type of bristleworm, the sting can cause burning, inflammation, numbness, pain, redness, and swelling at the bite or sting site.
