NO NEWS IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD NEWS; AN EMPIRICAL REPORT OF HIGH INCIDENCE OF PAEDERUS DERMATITIS BOTH IN RESIDENTS AND IN TRAVELERS OF NORTHERN IRAN, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF LACK OF INFORMATION

Paederus is a genus of small beetles of the family Staphylinidae (rove beetles), widely distributed around
Northern Iran and known as Dracula in this region. It releases a potent vesicant and notorious toxin
called pederin which results in mitosis blockage by inhibiting protein and DNA synthesis and causes a
self-limiting form of acute irritant contact dermatitis known as Paederus dermatitis. Since there isn't any
specific antidote to neutralize the toxin and its effects, the treatment is largely conservative, focusing on
relieving symptoms. It seems the best method to prevent these complications is to avoid contact with
the beetles in the first place and in case of contact, the affected area should be immediately washed with
soap and water and/or alcohol-based rub-in cleanser to remove the irritant. Unfortunately, the lack of
proper notification by healthcare officials and providers to the local inhabitants and the coincidence of
high rates of traveling to this region with the peak season of Paederus activity leads to a larger population
to be exposed to this insect and subsequently a high incidence of the disease. On the other hand, there
are no precise statistics available for the incidence rate of Paederus dermatitis, characteristics of affected
patients, and distribution patterns of insects due to a lack of a comprehensive system for recording and
reporting the cases of this disease.