Marine Animal Bite or Sting
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
A marine animal bite or sting happens when you are poisoned or wounded by an animal that lives in salt water. Marine animals that bite include barracudas, moray eels, and sharks. Animals that inject poison through tentacles include Portuguese man-of-war, jellyfish, and sea anemones. Broken tentacles can still sting for weeks or months after being separated from the animal, even if they are dried. Animals that sting with spines or barbs include stingrays and sea urchins.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- You are having trouble talking, walking, or breathing.
- You have double vision, slurred speech, or convulsions.
- You have tightness in your throat, wheezing when you breathe, swollen tongue, or rashes over your body.
Return to the emergency department if:
- You have swelling, numbness, or cannot move the arm or leg below the injury.
- Your pain is the same or worse even after you take pain medicine.
- Your wound does not stop bleeding even after you apply pressure.
- Your wound or bandage has pus or a bad smell, even if you are clean it every day.
Call your doctor if:
- You have a fever.
- You have tingling in the area of the bite or sting.
- You have pain or problems moving the injured area or get tender lumps in your groin or armpits.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Medicines:
You may need any of the following:
- Antibiotics help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
- Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your healthcare provider how to take this medicine safely. Some prescription pain medicines contain acetaminophen. Do not take other medicines that contain acetaminophen without talking to your healthcare provider. Too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Prescription pain medicine may cause constipation. Ask your healthcare provider how to prevent or treat constipation.
- Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
General wound care:
Keep the bandage clean and dry.
- Wash your hands before and after you care for your wound. This helps prevent infection.
- Clean your wound with mild soap and water. Pat the area dry. Do this as often as ordered by your healthcare provider.
- Check the wound and the area around it. Look for any swelling, redness, or fluid oozing out of it. Apply gentle pressure to stop any bleeding.
- Cover your wound with a 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. You should be able to slip a finger between the bandage and your skin.
Care for a bite wound:
- Flush the bitten area with water. Clean it with mild soap and water to prevent infection.
- Apply direct pressure to the wound to stop any bleeding. Use a clean cloth.
- Do not remove teeth from a marine animal. This could damage your muscles or tissues. Leave teeth in place until your healthcare provider can remove them.
Care for a sting wound:
If tentacles are attached, soak your skin in vinegar for at least 10 minutes before you remove them. Do not use alcohol. Alcohol may cause the tentacle to fire more poison. Put on gloves before you do the following:
- Use tweezers to remove the tentacles from the skin. Do not touch the tentacles with your hands. Another way to remove the tentacles is to apply shaving cream or baking soda to the area. Then scrape away the tentacles very gently with a razor blade. If you are on a beach, make a paste of sand and seawater. Apply the paste, then scrape off the tentacles with a shell or credit card.
- Soak the affected area in hot water for 60 to 90 minutes.
- Carefully remove pieces of broken spines or barbs from your skin. Do not try to remove pieces that are inside a deep cut. Do not try to remove pieces if you think they may be lodged in a joint or nerve.
- Wash the sting site with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic ointment on broken skin or hydrocortisone cream to relieve pain.
Prevent another marine animal bite or sting:
- Swim at beaches with lifeguards. Supervise children when they go in or near the water. Do not swim alone or on faraway beaches.
- Do not dive or run into water. Check the water before you enter it.
- Do not go into areas where jellyfish have been seen. Even dead jellyfish can sting. Always read and follow signs.
- Do not touch marine life. Stay clear of swimming stingrays. Do not put your hands or fingers into holes or crevices.
- Do not wear bright, shiny objects into the water. These may attract marine animals.
- Do not walk on rocky areas if you cannot see what is in the water. Wear something to protect your feet. Shuffle your feet when you walk in shallow waters.
Follow up with your doctor as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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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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