Injuries and granuloma caused by Water Slider

Case Report

In the month of October 2001 just after Durgapuja the first author of this article was bitten by water insect while taking bath atAsansol club swimming pool. The bite was at the back of his right deltoid region. The insect was immediately crushed by rubbing against the concrete boundary of the pool. The bite was not very painful but withirr an hour or so it became numb. Gradually a granuloma was formed and the deep and superficial sensations obliterated. Next day he went to the pool collected by net a few of the water insects and sent for identification to an entomologist. Initially it was thought to be praying mantis of female variety which used to eat up male partner after intercourse and having strong jaws, basically carnivora in nature. But later it was discovered it to be water slider [Figure - 1] known as "Ranatra" belonging to the family "Diptera". The author next day developed features of acute abdomen which did not respond to any of the antispasmodic or analgesic. Fortunately the bite was correlated and thought to be having neurotoxin and he responded well to anti histaminics and systemic steroid. Routine investigations were within normal limits. Ultrasonogram revealed no abnormality. [Figure - 2]

Discussion

Bite of water slider (Ranatra) is extremely rare; probably its report is non-existent in dermatological literature. More over granuloma, numbness which persisted for three months and, acute abdomen and other features of neurotoxicity are probably unknown. Fisher has elaborately discussed in his book "Contact Dermatitis" about aquatic dermatitis from worms, larvae, swimming pool granuloma, redlite dermatitis, scombroid dermatitis, stringray envenomation, pricking sensation from crab larvae in coral sea coast, sea louse dermatitis, Zebra fish, scorpion fish, blood warm bites dermatitis, sea weeds, conch shell sting, sea cumcumber, jelly fish, coral cuts purplesajl dermatitis. Portuguese man of war dermatitis including leech bites and many others like water related infections with Aeromonas hydophila, psudomonas folliculitis, erysipelothrix dermatitis. But the condition from normal pool bath with water slider bite is yet to be reported.

Acknowledgement

We thank Smt. Nisha Panth for initial detection of water slider and also to Dr. Ashok Mukhopadhyay, Deputy Director of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of India, Dr, Animesh Bal, chief entomologist zoological survey of India, Dr. D. Chakraborthy who has treated me during acute abdomen, and Mrs. Nandini Chakraborty who said initially it to be Diptera family.