Marine Animal Bite or Sting

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

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What is a marine animal bite or sting?

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.

What are the signs and symptoms of a marine animal bite?

• Bleeding, torn skin, or large areas of skin bitten off
• Throbbing pain or trouble moving the bitten area
• Broken bones
• Redness, tenderness, or warmth around the wound, or pus coming from the wound
• Fever

What are the signs and symptoms of a marine animal sting?

• Pain that burns, pricks, or stings
• Itching, tingling, or numbness
• Redness, rash, blisters, or other skin changes
• Bleeding and swelling
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache, fever, chills, sweating, weakness, and muscle cramps
• Swelling, hives, and trouble breathing (allergic reaction)

How is a marine animal bite or sting diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask you to describe your symptoms and will examine the injured area. Tell your provider all the details you know about the bite or sting, including when it occurred and if you saw what happened. Your provider will check to see how deep the wound is and look for signs of infection. You may need the following:

• Blood tests are used to check for an infection.
• A wound culture is used to grow and identify any germs in your wound. This helps healthcare providers find out if you have an infection and the best medicine to treat it.
• X-ray pictures are used to check for broken bones or objects such as spines or teeth.

How is a marine animal bite or sting treated?

Treatment depends on which marine animal caused the injury, and the location and how bad the injury is. It also depends on how long you have had the injury and if other body parts were affected. You may need any of the following:

• Wound cleaning is done to remove pieces of teeth, tentacles, or spine left inside the skin. Objects, dirt, or dead tissues from the open wound will be removed. Your healthcare provider may soak the wound. The wound will be cleaned with soap, water, and antibacterial solution. This helps wash away germs that may be in the wound, and decrease the risk for infection. Healthcare providers may drain the wound to clean out pus.
• Medicines may be given to prevent or fight a bacterial infection, pain, or swelling. You may need tetanus shots, immune globulins, or antivenom medicine. You may also receive oxygen or a blood transfusion.
• Stitches may be needed to close the wound. You may need surgery to repair a broken bone or damaged joint, tendon, or nerve. Rarely, you may need surgery to rebuild or remove the body part with the bite wound.

How should I 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.

How should I 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.

What can I do to prevent a 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.

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US), or have someone call 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.

When should I seek immediate care?

• 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.

When should I call my doctor?

• 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.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. 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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