Cutaneous Manifestations Following Exposures to Marine Life Follow-up

  • Author: Zoltan Trizna, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 3, 2012
 

Further Inpatient Care

Further inpatient care depends on the nature of the exposure or injury.

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Further Outpatient Care

Follow-up is determined by the nature of the injury.

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Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

Medications are prescribed as required by the underlying pathophysiology or complications.

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Complications

Most of the cutaneous sequelae of aqueous exposure resolve without severe long-term problems. Pigmentary changes and scarring may occur. Functional limitation and disfigurement may be observed, and these can be treated (see Surgical Care). Delayed-type reactions may require treatment.

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Prognosis

Limited local reactions usually resolve without serious sequelae. Otherwise, prognosis depends on the extent of local and systemic reactions, such as cardiovascular collapse, or functional impairment of the limbs or other structures.

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Patient Education

Prevention is important. Instruct patients to protect against re-exposure. Avoid touching marine animals, including beached organisms or animal parts (eg, broken jellyfish tentacles). Use protective equipment such as specially designed gloves when cleaning fish, shellfish, or invertebrates. Wear a wet suit while surfing, snorkeling, or diving. Avoid areas with known high risk of exposure such as shallow coral reefs where sea urchins can dwell.

Other methods of avoiding marine life are specific to given geographic areas (eg, walking with a shuffle in shallow water where stingrays may be encountered) and to a particular commercial or recreational activity (eg, fish cleaning).

For patient education resources, see the Bites and Stings Center, as well as Stingray Injury.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Zoltan Trizna, MD, PhD  Private Practice

Zoltan Trizna, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

James J Nordlund, MD  Professor Emeritus, Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

James J Nordlund, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Sigma Xi, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

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

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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

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Mycobacterium marinum infection. Courtesy of the Department of Dermatology, UTMB at Galveston, Texas.
Jellyfish stings. Courtesy of the Department of Dermatology, UTMB at Galveston, Texas.
Erysipeloid. Courtesy of the Department of Dermatology, UTMB at Galveston, Texas.
Envenomation caused by Portuguese-man-of-war. Courtesy of the Department of Dermatology, UTMB at Galveston, Texas.
 
 
 
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