Bites of marine animals and fish

There are poisonous and non-poisonous bites of marine animals and fish. Non-poisonous, but extensive damage can be caused by sharks, morays, acne, barracuda, etc. In these cases, emergency treatment is provided according to the standard treatment of wounds: stopping bleeding, replenishing the volume of circulating blood, anesthesia.

Jellyfish and polyps affect the toxic substance contained in the stinging cells and causes anaphylactic reactions, sometimes fatal. When in contact with jellyfish, a person has severe burning and pain, flushing and swelling of the skin, sometimes bubbles. After 15-20 minutes, there are pains in the muscles and joints, chills, a feeling of compression behind the sternum, some - bronchospasm, intestinal disorders. These symptoms subsided in 2-4 days. Some jellyfish (sea wasp, fisalia) contain a potent neuroparalytic poison of immediate effect, which can lead to the cessation of breathing and cardiac activity.

Emergency assistance in the development of pathological symptoms due to contact with jellyfish and polyps consists in removing jellyfish residues from the skin and treating the skin with a 70% ethanol solution or 3% vinegar solution, then apply an oil compress or a nourishing cream on a fat basis. In addition, intramuscular administration of antihistamines, anesthesia with non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics, and anti-shock measures are necessary. Do not recommend washing the place of contact with jellyfish with fresh and sea water. In the first case, destruction of the stinging cells occurs with the release of toxin, in the second case, the "revitalization" of withered stinging cells. When contacting jellyfish containing a neuroparalytic poison, timely cardiopulmonary resuscitation is important.

Neuroparalytic poison can also affect some species of marine fish (tail, lionfish, scorpion, sea dragon, etc.), mollusks (cones), blue octopus. Clinical picture with a bite (prick): local signs of inflammation (pain and erythema), choking, weakness, bradycardia, convulsions, cardiac arrest and respiration.

In such cases, the wound should be washed with sea water. To neutralize the poison, it is advisable to hold the damaged part of the body in hot water (40-50 ° C) for 30-90 min. On the affected limb, a tight venous tourniquet is placed proximal to the site of the injection (not later than the first 15 minutes) or a pressure bandage. It is advisable to conduct a local Novocaine blockade, intramuscular administration of antihistamines and analgesics, detoxification therapy. When injecting some species of sea urchin or stingray, an early administration of naloxone as an analgesic antagonist is recommended at 0.01 mg / kg. When cardiac arrest and breathing are carried out cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Poisoning can be caused by the use of certain species of commercial fish (tuna, sea bass, mackerel, etc.), feeding on phytoplankton containing neurotoxic poison - siguatoxin. The disease was called "ciguatera." The clinical picture of poisoning is dominated by dyspepsia, numbness of the tongue and lips, hallucinations, a violation of temperature sensitivity, in severe cases, cardiovascular failure, respiratory arrest.

With such poisonings, three times washing of the stomach with water from the calculation of 15-20 ml / kg, the introduction of activated carbon in the stomach to 1 g / kg, as a salt laxative, use 10% sodium sulfate solution at a rate of 200-250 mg / kg. Oxygen therapy with 50% oxygen, hemodilution and ventilation is indicated in necessary cases.

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