DIBRUGARH, April 22: Dimou Rural Hospital in Upper Assam has treated around 100 cases of bites from a little-known aquatic insect since 2018, with one fatality and nearly 28 patients developing serious wounds, according to a medical expert.
Dr Surajit Giri, associated with the Indian Council of Medical Research’s “Zero Snakebite Death” project at the hospital, highlighted the issue, noting that the insect—about eight centimetres long and commonly found in ponds, paddy fields and wetlands—often goes unnoticed and is even consumed in some parts of the Northeast.
He cited a recent case involving a 30-year-old trailer driver from Sivasagar district, who stepped into shallow water near the India–Myanmar border and later developed severe swelling and pain in his leg. “The patient did not realise he had been bitten. By the time he reached us on the third day, his condition had worsened significantly,” Dr Giri said.
Doctors administered a temporary antivenom protocol, and the patient was discharged after five days, though he later developed a deep wound at the site before recovering.
Hospital data indicate that nearly 70 per cent of such cases involve only mild symptoms that resolve without medical intervention. However, in certain instances, venom entering the bloodstream can lead to severe complications.
Explaining the mechanism, Dr Giri said the insect’s venom behaves similarly to snake venom, with serious outcomes depending on the quantity delivered. Sub-lethal exposure typically results in localised pain or swelling, while full venom injection remains relatively rare.
He cautioned that farmers and fishers working in waterlogged areas face higher exposure risks and urged greater awareness. “Not every unseen bite underwater is from fish or thorns. There are lesser-known venomous organisms, and our understanding of them is still limited,” he said, advising vigilance without alarm.
