How do you treat a butterfly bite?
An excellent question, and one that is very relevant for me at the moment as there are loads of the nasty bity creatures about up here...
... Its really quite dangerous with so many of them in the air!
Well. Clinical specialists have this to say:
First off, its completely different to snake bites, and under absolutely no circumstances should you try to identify the particular species of butterfly that inflicted the bite... Its FAR too dangerous to get anywhere near the beast and both you and the bite victim should get away from the area as fast as possible (victims are almost always still ambulatory in the early stages, before the venom takes hold).
Note: The venom of the butterfly is however a neurotoxin, though rather than effecting the nerves of the body, it effects the nerves in the brain and presents as a "personality disorder" rather than physiologically.
Once everyone is in a safe area, you should try to keep the victim of the butterfly bite in a constant state of low-grade stress. Its a fine balance because if the stress level should become too high, it will weaken the victims systems resistance to the butterfly venom. But on the other hand, if the stress level is too low, the venom will simply spread quickly of its own accord.
Under no circumstances should the victim be allowed to become calm and relaxed!
You as the "first responder" have the best chance to get treatment started as soon as possible and thereby reduce the chances of the victim developing the long term condition. If the appropriate measures are taken very soon after the bite, the victim has a very good chance of a full recovery and leading a normal life.
If however, the appropriate actions are not taken immediately, or they are applied ineffectively, the victim will almost certainly develop the long term condition that leads to eventual death...
Early symptoms of a butterfly bite are a feeling of light-headedness, occasional sniggering/chortelling, quiet smiling and what has been described by many first-hand witnesses as "an unusually pleasant demeanour".
If the victim is unfortunate, these symptoms will not dissipate within a day or so and will continue to develop...
The worsening condition is characterised by smiling and whistling, wistful watching of sun-sets, occasional skipping while walking, As it develops further the victim is likely to suffer debilitating and embarrassing bouts of public laughter and even dancing. Likewise, as the condition progresses, the victim will increasingly perform wanton acts of kindness and senseless beauty. Needless to say, any sort of "normal" life soon becomes impossible and the victim will often suffer the compounding effects of being socially isolated and ostracised.
While, the fully developed long term condition is ultimately fatal; in order to prolong the period before complete disability occurs and to maintain the victims "quality of life" for as long as possible, it is important to provide the victim a living environment with the highest possible levels of responsibility and the lowest possible levels of authority. This regimen should be maintained constantly. The victim should preferably not be allowed to take more than two and absolutely not more than three weeks of "vacation" (from the treatment environment) per year.
Ultimately of course, the victim will pass-away as a direct result of the butterfly bite. It normally occurs "quietly in their sleep" after many years of suffering. Usually the victims body will be left with the tell-tale disfigurement of a deep and permanent smile etched on their face... A sad, cruel, and painful reminder for the victims loved ones of the years of suffering...
NOTE:
It is ironic to note that many people living today have in fact suffered butterfly bites and are living with the long term effects slowly developing. But it is a testament to the effectiveness of the treatment methods that have been developed and that are in fact in wide prophylactic usage throughout North American society (An initiative put in place by the Nixon administration!) that these people can live long and fruitful lives within the "normal" society of modern North America.
Not also that the best cure is, as always, "avoidance" of the bite in the first place!
