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.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

• Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
  
  
  • Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
    
    
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

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:

Rest when you feel it is needed. Slowly start to do more each day. Return to your daily activities as directed.

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.

For more information:

Contact the following for more information about marine animal bite or sting:

• FamilyDoctor.org
  www.familydoctor.org
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• 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.

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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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