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Stings and bites from marine animals

Stings and bites from marine animals

After their long walk to the tomb of the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela, it is common for pilgrims to enjoy a well-deserved rest on the Galician coast. But at sea, as on land, there is a whole world of animals to be aware of, which can sometimes cause health problems.

Stingrays and pout

Stingrays and pout stings are very common on the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, especially when the tide is low, and you walk barefoot in the water along the shore. When you step on a stingray or a pout, they inoculate the venom through one or more of its barbs.

The sting causes immediate, intense pain that may be confined to the area around the sting or may spread rapidly. In less than 90 minutes, it reaches its maximum intensity. If no treatment is applied, the pain continues over 6 to 48 hours, although progressively decreasing.

Dizziness, weakness, nausea, and anxiety are common. Less commonly, there is swelling and pain in the lymph nodes, vomiting, diarrhoea, sweating, generalised cramps, pain in the armpit or groin and breathing difficulties.

In general, the wound produced by the barb is irregular and bleeds profusely. It is crucial to check the injury for fragments of the barb lining, which increases the risk of infection. It is common for the area around the wound to be swollen.

The injured limb should be immersed in water at the highest temperature that can be tolerated for 30-90 minutes. If these measures are delayed, the pain can become severe. In this case, the doctor can locally anaesthetise the injury and administer painkillers.

Sea urchins

The venom from sea urchin bites rarely harms people. Their barbs injure the skin and cause tissue damage and inflammation. If not removed, the barbs dig deeper, causing chronic inflammation or become embedded in a bone or nerve.

These bites can cause muscle and joint pain, as well as skin rashes. The quills of a sea urchin should be removed immediately. The bluish-coloured skin surface at the point where the spike has penetrated can help to locate it. Vinegar dissolves most sea urchin quills. The area around the wound should be carefully washed, and an ointment combining antihistamines, analgesics and a corticosteroid should be applied.

Anemones, jellyfish, and caravels

Coelenterates such as sea anemones, jellyfish and the so-called Portuguese Caravels sting can pierce the skin. Each of their tentacles has thousands of spikes that shoot through the skin. Their sting produces a rash surrounded by a reddish area. The pain can be intense, and itching is common. The rash may develop into blisters that fill with pus and rupture.

Other symptoms include weakness, nausea, headache, muscle pain and spasms, congestion of the eyes and nose, profuse sweating, changes in heart rhythm and chest pain, which may worsen with breathing. Portuguese caravels stings have killed some people.

Coelenterate bites require a good cleaning of the area. Ammonia or vinegar can also be applied. But the usual treatment is as follows:

  1. Place seawater on the wound.
  2. Remove the tentacles with sterile tweezers.
  3. Soak the injured area with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar for thirty minutes.
  4. Sprinkle flour or baking soda over the wound and then scrape it carefully with a sterilised knife.
  5. Soak the area again with vinegar.
  6. Apply an ointment combining antihistamines, analgesics, and corticosteroids.

More severe reactions may require oxygen therapy or other respiratory support. Muscle spasms and pain are treated with intravenous medication administered in a health care facility.

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