Sea Urchin Infection
If you are stung by a sea urchin, not only is it going to hurt, but also you run the risk of getting an infection. A sea urchin is covered by numerous spiny spikes that can break off in a person's skin; this is how the animal protects itself. Of the numerous types of sea urchins, only a few have toxins in their spikes. These are more likely to cause infection.
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Considerations
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If a sea-urchin sting is taken care of immediately, no infection should result. Problems arise when sea-urchin spines or stingers are left under the skin. The stingers are very narrow and hard to see, and they are difficult to remove once embedded deeply in a person's flesh. Once infection has set in, surgery to remove the spines is often the only recourse.
Signs
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Signs of an infection from a sea-urchin sting can include pus, redness at the site of entry and warmth in the area. Some people have stronger reactions than others to sea-urchin stings and can experience shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea and general all-over weakness. Additionally, you will see black spots on the skin where the spines embedded themselves.
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Treatment
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Once an infection has started to show, a doctor can remove the spines and prescribe a course of antibiotics to help the body heal. The doctor will most likely have to surgically remove the spines. The process could be very difficult, depending on how embedded the spines are. The spines are delicate and can break apart in the skin, so the removal process is tedious.
Time Frame
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Once infection has set in, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately. Infection is a sign that the body is struggling to fight off inflammation or toxins from the sea-urchin spines. How dangerous an infection is depends on the person's individual health concerns.
Warning
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There are countless theories on how to care for a sea-urchin sting. Some suggest soaking your wound in hot vinegar or urine, or applying papaya. Some of these suggestions might work for certain people, and some might not. However, once infection has set in, it is unwise to follow the advice of any non-professional. The best course of action is to go to a doctor and seek the proper treatment.
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References
- Photo Credit Sea Urchin image by vi from Fotolia.com
