Oxfordshire mum warns others after son gets painful rash from caterpillar

Four-year old Oliver was playing outside at his family home in Steventon on Tuesday (May 17), when he decided to befriend one of the hairy black caterpillars that live in the garden.

Oliver took one of the caterpillars off the tree and was playing with it on his hand.

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Shortly after this, things took a turn for the worse.

His mum Caroline Gel, 43, said: “He must have wiped his face with his hands and within about half an hour he said his mouth was really stinging and he came up with a small rash around his mouth.

“We put some ice on it and just assumed it was just an allergy from the garden.”

Oliver wanted to befriend the caterpillar in his garden. Picture: Caroline Gel

However, the following day the family awoke to find Oliver's body covered in the red rash and hives. 

Mrs Gel took Oliver to their doctor, who could not work out what caused the reaction but prescribed the youngster antihistamines to help with the inflammation.

Mrs Gel decided to research the caterpillar Oliver was playing with the previous evening and discovered it was a brown tail moth caterpillar.

This particular species of inset has urticating hairs which cause an irritant effect, resulting in breathing difficulties and rashes when in contact with the skin.

Within 30 minutes a rash had formed on Oliver's face. Picture: Caroline Gel

“We did not realise these fairly normal looking caterpillars would cause such a horrible reaction,” Mrs Gel said.

She added: “His whole face was swollen, his mouth, his lips, and it still remains that way. Apparently it can stay that way for two or three weeks.”

When the rash first developed on Oliver it was red and sore, before becoming itchy.

Although it is still on his skin and looks “just as bad”, the four-year old has generally “forgotten about it” until he looks in the mirror, which Mrs Gel is thankful for.

The hairs of the tiny creature have a irritating effect on the skin. Picture: Caroline Gel

Mrs Gel shared pictures of the caterpillars and Oliver’s rash on social media, to make others aware of the risk the innocent looking caterpillar poses.

“If people can be aware, that would be good,” she told the Oxford Mail.

Oliver came out in a rash and hives after touching the insect. Picture: Caroline Gel

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The brown tail moth is a native British species and is commonly found in southern England and Wales, as well as in some coastal regions further north.

Adults lay their eggs in late summer with the caterpillars emerging the following April to feed, before pupating in late May.

The irritating effects of the caterpillars hairs are particularly risky for people who suffer with asthma, eczema, hay fever or just generally have sensitive skin.

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This story was written by Sophie Perry, she joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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