Seabather's Eruption Follow-up

Author: Clarence William Brown Jr, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD more...

Updated: Mar 28, 2012

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Further Inpatient Care
Inpatient & Outpatient Medications
Deterrence/Prevention
Complications
Prognosis
Patient Education
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Further Inpatient Care

Patients rarely demonstrate associated systemic symptomatology severe enough to require hospitalization. Even then, treatment is largely supportive and should include systemic corticosteroids.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

Topical corticosteroids in combination with oral antihistamines are used to relieve local symptoms. Systemic corticosteroids should be reserved for patients with a severe cutaneous eruption and pronounced systemic symptoms.

Deterrence/Prevention

Showering with the bathing suit off is the only significant protective measure against seabather's eruption. Length of shower time; timing of the shower; bathing suit style; shower water temperature; towel drying upon emerging from the seawater; and application of ointment, creams, or lotions have no preventative effect.

Complications

Because of the nature of the allergic hypersensitivity underlying the disease, patients are susceptible to recurrence upon reexposure. Reports have described exaggerated symptomatology in recurrent cases of seabather's eruption, and, for such individuals, avoiding seawater on affected beaches during seasonal peaks is best.

Prognosis

Cutaneous eruptions clear in 2 weeks, with or without therapy.

Patient Education

Educate patients about thimble jellyfish larvae during peak seasons in affected areas and the preventative role of showering with the bathing suit off following exposure to the seawater.

For patient education materials, see the Environmental Exposures and Injuries Center; Bites and Stings Center; and Jellyfish, Stingray, and Other Water Animal Bites/Stings Center, as well as Jellyfish Stings and Stingray Injury.

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Clarence William Brown Jr, MD Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Dermatologic and Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center

Clarence William Brown Jr, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Medical Association, Chicago Dermatological Society, Chicago Medical Society, Illinois Dermatological Society, and Illinois State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Carrie L Kovarik, MD Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Carrie L Kovarik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey P Callen, MD Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Safety Monitoring Committee

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

References

Segura Puertas L, Burnett JW, Heimer de la Cotera E. The medusa stage of the coronate scyphomedusa Linuche unguiculata ('thimble jellyfish') can cause seabather's eruption. Dermatology. 1999;198(2):171-2. [Medline].
Kumar S, Hlady WG, Malecki JM. Risk factors for seabather's eruption: a prospective cohort study. Public Health Rep. Jan-Feb 1997;112(1):59-62. [Medline].
Freudenthal AR, Joseph PR. Seabather's eruption. N Engl J Med. Aug 19 1993;329(8):542-4. [Medline].
Wong DE, Meinking TL, Rosen LB, Taplin D, Hogan DJ, Burnett JW. Seabather's eruption. Clinical, histologic, and immunologic features. J Am Acad Dermatol. Mar 1994;30(3):399-406. [Medline].
Bernhardt MJ, Mandojana RM. "Seabather's eruption". Clin Dermatol. Jul-Sep 1987;5(3):101-2. [Medline].
Burnett JW, Calton GJ, Burnett HW. Jellyfish envenomation syndromes. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jan 1986;14(1):100-6. [Medline].
Fisher AA. Toxic and allergic cutaneous reactions to jellyfish with special reference to delayed reactions. Cutis. Oct 1987;40(4):303-5. [Medline].
Kettle M. Americans adrift in an ocean of fears. The Guardian Weekly. February 8, 2001:Available at http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~caplabtb/dprk/adrift.html.
Letot B, Kharfi M, Mandojana R, Piérard GE. [Undesirable reactions from contact with marine organisms]. Rev Med Liege. Jun 2000;55(6):531-7. [Medline].
Mandojana RM, Letot B. Historical outlook of aquatic biotoxicology and balneology as related to dermatology. Classification of aquatic dermatoses. Clin Dermatol. Jul-Sep 1987;5(3):1-7. [Medline].
Mandojana RM, Sims JK. Miscellaneous dermatoses associated with the aquatic environment. Clin Dermatol. Jul-Sep 1987;5(3):134-45. [Medline].

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