The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : official organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society
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Caterpillars are the wormlike larval forms of butterflies and moths of the insect order Lepidoptera. Next to flies, lepidopterans are the most abundant arthropods with over 165,000 species worldwide, over 11,000 species in the United States alone, and with most species posing no human threats. Caterpillar species from several families of moths in the South can inflict serious human injuries ranging from urticarial dermatitis and conjunctivitis to atopic asthma and pan-uveitis. Since the 1970s, there have been increasing reports of dermatolgic, pulmonary, and systemic reactions following caterpillar encounters throughout the South.
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Zygomycosis refers to diseases caused by filamentous fungi from the class Zygomycetes. These organisms are ubiquitous in nature and can be found in soil as well as in decaying organic matter such as fruit and bread. ⋯ Isolated involvement of the central nervous system is rare and is most often associated with intravenous drug use. This case report describes isolated cerebral zygomycosis in an intravenous drug user.