Sea Urchin Sting: What to Do and Possible Consequences

it is a skin reaction that results from accidental contact with this organism.

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For the "man, this" close encounter can be quite annoying: the sea urchins have sharp and fragile quills, which penetrate and remain embedded in the tissues. This causes immediate pain, followed by the onset of raised point papules in the affected area.

The sea urchin sting is usually harmless in our latitudes, but it is advisable to disinfect the skin and remove the spinous processes from the skin as soon as possible with the help of tweezers. In case the removal of these fragments is difficult, it is advisable consult a doctor, who will evaluate, depending on the wound, whether to subject the victim of the sea urchin sting to tetanus prophylaxis. If the quills migrate deeply, a small incision may be necessary; after the sea urchin sting, in fact, the greatest risk is that a granulomatous nodular lesion arises, due to the fragments that remain in the skin and behave like a foreign body.

The lesion heals quickly, but if an infection occurs, it is necessary to resort to antibiotic therapy.

or inadvertently stepping on them with your feet while swimming in the sea.

Some species of sea urchin - present mainly in the tropics, on the coasts of the Atlantic and in the South Pacific area - have small pincer appendages, which attach themselves to the victim and inoculate the poison which may, in turn, contain neurotoxic substances. and / or cardiotoxic. In the case of multiple stings, general reactions, even severe ones, can occur, with muscle spasms, respiratory disorders, asthenia (extreme weakness) and cardiovascular collapse. Fortunately, Mediterranean species are characterized by "inducing less toxic, immediate or delayed reactions than their sting. The effects of a sea urchin sting therefore depend on individual susceptibility, the species in question and the geographical area of ​​the sea urchin. "accident.

, characterized by burning and itching. Sometimes, joint and muscle pains can also occur.

In fishermen who grab sea urchins without protective gloves, repeated stings over time can cause hard edema in the hands, which can cause a restriction in the movement of the wrists and fingers.