Marine Animal Bite Or Sting

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A marine animal bite or sting is an injury caused by an animal that lives in salt water. The injury may be from a poison or wound caused by the marine animal, or both. A marine animal bite may be caused by sharks, eels, barracudas, and octopuses. Stings may be due to a jellyfish, Portuguese man-of-war, and sea anemones, which inject poison through their tentacles (arms). Stingrays, stonefish, lionfish, scorpionfish, catfish, and sea urchins also inject poison and cause open wounds. You may have pain, bleeding, or swelling at the site of the bite or sting. You may have puncture wounds, skin nicks or scrape, redness, rashes, bumps, blisters, or changes in skin color. Bad bites or stings may cause trouble breathing, fainting, convulsions, and death.
  
  
• Caregivers may check the affected area, including the injured skin and area around it. He will look for other problems and signs of infection. Blood tests, an ultrasound, wound culture, and x-rays may be done to check for other problems or injuries. Treatment will depend on how severe the injury is, its location, and whether other areas are affected. This includes wound cleaning, medicines, and other procedures. With proper treatment and care, a marine animal bite or sting may be cured and serious problems prevented.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.
  
  

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Preventing a marine animal bite or sting:

• Check the water before entering it. Do not dive or run when going into the water.
  
  
• Do not go into areas where jellyfish, even if dead, have been seen. Always read and follow sign posts.
  
  
• Do not touch a marine life that you do are not familiar with. Do not put your hands or fingers into holes or crevices. Stay clear of swimming stingrays.
  
  
• Do not wear bright, shiny objects.
  
  
• Supervise children when they go in or near the water.
  
  
• Swim at beaches with lifeguards. Do not swim alone or on faraway beaches. Do not swim with open wounds.
  
  
• Wear something to protect your feet. Do not walk on rocky areas that are not clearly seen. Shuffle your feet when walking in shallow waters.

Rest: You may feel like resting more. Slowly start to do more each day. Rest when you feel it is needed.

Wound care: Ask your caregiver about the proper way to care for your wound at home.

• Clean your wound with mild soap and water, and pat dry. Do this as often as ordered by your caregiver. If you cannot reach the wound, have someone help you.
  
  
• Carefully check the wound and the area around it. Watch out for any swelling, redness, or fluid oozing out of it. If there is bleeding, you may apply gentle pressure.
  
  
• Cover your wound with a layer of clean gauze bandage. If the bandage should be wrapped around your arm or leg, wrap it snugly but not too tight. It is too tight if you feel tingling or lose feeling in that area. Keep the bandage clean and dry.
  
  
• Wash your hands before and after taking care of a wound to prevent having or spreading an infection.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have a skin rash, itching, or swelling after taking your medicine.
  
  
• You have numbness or tingling in the area of the bite or sting.
  
  
• You have pain or problems moving the injured part or get tender lumps in your groin or armpits.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your injury, medicine, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You are having trouble talking, walking, or breathing.
  
  
• You have double vision, slurred speech, drooling, muscle cramps or convulsions.
  
  
• You have numbness or swelling below the wound, or you cannot move the part below the wound.
  
  
• You have tightness in your throat, wheezing when breathing, swollen tongue, or rashes over your body.
  
  
• Your pain is not relieved or is getting worse even after taking medicine.
  
  
• Your wound does not stop bleeding even after applying pressure.
  
  
• Your wound or bandage has pus or a bad smell even if you are cleaning it everyday.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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