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Marine animal stings or bites

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Jellyfish sting
Jellyfish sting

Alternative Names    Return to top

Stings - marine animals; Bites - marine animals

Definition    Return to top

Marine animal stings or bites refer to poisonous bites or stings from any form of sea life, including jellyfish.

Considerations    Return to top

The majority of these types of stings occur in salt water. Some types of marine stings or bites can be deadly.

Causes    Return to top

Causes include bites or stings from various types of marine life including: jellyfish, Portuguese Man-of-War, stingray, stonefish, scorpion fish, catfish, sea urchins, sea anemone, hydroid, coral, cone shell, sharks, barracudas, and moray or electric eels.

Symptoms    Return to top

There may be pain, burning, swelling, redness, or bleeding near the area of the bite or sting. Other symptoms can affect the entire body, and may include:

First Aid    Return to top

DO NOT    Return to top

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Seek medical help if the person has difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or other body-wide (generalized) symptoms.

Prevention    Return to top

References    Return to top

Otten EJ. Venomous Animal Injuries. In: Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006.

Update Date: 6/9/2008

Updated by: John E. Duldner, Jr., MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine Akron General Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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