Bites of marine animals

The bites of some marine animals are poisonous; all bites form wounds with a high risk of infection by marine microorganisms, especially Vibrio, Aeromonas species and Mycobacterium marinum. Shark bites form jagged ragged wounds, with partial or complete amputation of the limbs, which require the same treatment as in other major injuries.

[1], [2], [3]

Cnidaria (coelenterates)

Cnidaria - corals, sea anemones, jellyfish (including stinging jellyfish) and hydroids (for example, a Portuguese boat) - are responsible for poisoning more often than any other marine animal. However, of the 9,000 varieties, only about 100 species of fish are poisonous to humans. Cnidaria have multiple, highly developed stinging formations on tentacles (stinging cells) that can penetrate the human skin; on contact, one tentacle can trigger thousands of stinging cells into the skin.

Different types of damage are typical for different species of Cnidaria. Usually, lesions initially appear as small, linear papular rashes that quickly merge into one or more discontinuous lines, occasionally surrounded by a zone of hyperemia raised above the surface of the skin. Pain occurs immediately and can be severe; usually there is an itch. Papules may increase, swell, bleed and flake off. Systemic manifestations include general weakness, nausea, headache, pain and muscle spasms, lacrimation and rhinitis, increased sweating, changes in heart rate and pleural pain.

In the waters of North America, the Portuguese ship caused several deaths. In the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the representatives of the Cubomedusae, especially the marine wasp Chironex fleckeri) and the jellyfish Chiropsalmusquadrigatus are the most dangerous and also caused several deaths .

In order to stop the burning caused by stinging cages, vinegar and baking soda are applied to the place of burn of the box jellyfish and the Portuguese ship in the ratio of 50:50. Fresh water can activate undifferentiated stinging cells. Tentacles must be removed immediately; For this, use forceps or remove them by hand in a double glove. Treatment is supportive. With small burns, anesthesia can be given to NSAIDs or other analgesics, and opioid analgesics are used for severe pain. Painful muscle spasms can be removed with benzodiazepine drugs. The administration of fluids and epinephrine intravenously can be used as an initial empirical shock treatment. There are antidotes otukusov C . fleckeri and box jellyfish, but they are ineffective in treating the bites of North American species.

Bather rash is a searing, itchy, maculopapular rash that affects swimmers in some Atlantic regions (for example, Florida, the Caribbean, Long Island). The rash is caused by bites of sea anemone larvae Edwardsiella lineata. Rashes usually appear in places where bathing suits are hard on the skin. Symptoms disappear when the larvae are washed off.

[4], [5]

Ramps

In the past on the North American coast, skates caused about 750 burns per year; the current statistics are unknown, most of the cases are not reported. The poison is contained in one or more thorns on the dorsal side of the animal's tail. Damage usually occurs when an unguarded swimmer walking along the bottom of the bay steps on a ramp that is buried in the sand and causes the animal to lift its tail up and forward and thrust the dorsal spike (or thorns) into the foot or leg of the victim. The coverlet of the thorns breaks, and the poison enters the victim's tissues, causing immediate severe pain. Despite the fact that the pain is often limited to the limits of the damaged area, it can grow very quickly, reaching the highest intensity in about 90 minutes. In most cases, the pain gradually decreases within 6-48 hours, but sometimes it can disturb days or weeks. Characteristic syncope, general weakness, nausea and anxiety, in part they can be a consequence of peripheral vasodilation. There are reports of lymphangitis, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, generalized spasms, pain in the inguinal or axillary areas and breathing disorders. The wound is usually with uneven edges, torn, strongly bleeds and in many cases is contaminated with parts of the cover coat. The edges of the wound are often colorless, probably the development of local tissue destruction in several areas. There is a small puffiness. Open wounds easily become infected. Damage to the extremities should be washed with salt water. You should try to remove the coverslips if they are visible in the wound. The extremity for 30-90 minutes should be immersed in water (the water temperature should be as high as possible for the patient without the development of a burn), this inactivates the poison. The wound should be examined repeatedly to identify the remains of the membranes and cleaned, if necessary, under local anesthesia. When a trunk is injured, a thorough examination is necessary to exclude the puncture of internal organs. Treatment is symptomatic. It is necessary to prevent tetanus, the damaged limb should be given an elevated position for several days. You may need antibiotic therapy and surgical closure of the wound.

Shellfish

Molluscs include cones (including cone snails), octopuses and bivalve mollusks. Conus californicus is the only known dangerous cone in the North American waters. Its sting causes local pain, swelling, flushing and numbness, which rarely progress so much as to cause shock. Treatment is mostly symptomatic. Local treatment plays a minor role, reports of the effectiveness of local injections of epinephrine and neostigmine methyl sulfate are not confirmed. If severe burns of Conus may require artificial ventilation and anti-shock measures.

Cone snails occasionally cause poisoning divers and shellfish gatherers in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The snail introduces poison through a tooth similar to a harpoon when it is suddenly disturbed (for example, during cleaning of a shell or when placed in a sack). The poison contains many neurotoxins that block the ion channels and receptors of the neurotransmitters, which causes paralysis, usually reversible, but deaths are known. Treatment is symptomatic, including local immobilization with a pressure bandage, immersion in hot water and prevention of tetanus. In severe cases, respiratory support may be required.

The bites of the North American octopus are rarely serious. Bites from blue with octopus circles, more characteristic of the waters of Australia, cause tetrodotoxin intoxication with local loss of sensitivity, neuromuscular paralysis and respiratory failure. Treatment is symptomatic.

Sea urchins

Most of the damage caused by sea urchins occurs when the spikes remain in the skin and cause local skin reactions. Without treatment, spines can migrate into deeper tissues, forming granulomatous nodal formations, or they can wedge into bone or nerve. There are muscular and joint pains, dermatitis. Several sea urchins (for example, Globiferous pedicellariae) have poisonous organs with calcareous jaws that can penetrate the skin of a person, but they rarely cause serious damage.

The diagnosis is usually obvious from the history. Bluish staining at the entrance site can help find thorns. If it is impossible to visualize them, an x-ray examination is performed. Treatment consists in immediate removal of thorns. Vinegar dissolves most of the surface spines; impregnating the wound with vinegar several times a day, applying a wet acetic compress or a combination of both methods is usually sufficient. Sometimes you have to perform a small incision to remove the spike. Care must be taken because the spike is very fragile. The spike that migrated deep into the tissues is surgically removed. After the removal of the thorns, the pain may remain for many days; Preservation of pain more than 5-7 days should cause suspicion about the presence of infection or the remaining foreign body.

Bites of G. Pedicellariae are treated with washing with balm with menthol.