A sea anemone is a marine creature growing on the ocean bed. Generally, sea anemones include jellyfish, sea pens and other corals. They are carnivorous and eat small fishes and other sea animals that go near the poisonous tentacles. Most bites of sea anemones are harmless while some sting that result to mild and severe reactions depending on the amount of venom.
Furthermore, the body of a sea anemone is tubular with a mouth located in the center that is surrounded by hundreds of tentacles that looks like small flower petals. The tentacles protect them from predators and use them to sting or capture food.
Risk factors for a sea anemone sting
- Deep sea and coral reef divers
- Keeping a sea anemone in aquariums
- Picking up the stinging poisonous sea anemones with bare hands
- Handling of alive or dead species of sea anemone
- Walking barefoot on beaches near the sea
Symptoms of sea anemone sting
- At first, cuts and wounds on the areas usually in the legs and arms
- Rashes and hives that eventually becomes a blister and then drains
- Severe pain
- Itchiness
- Swelling of the affected areas
- Severe runny nose
- Muscle aches
- Lastly, headache and fever
If there is difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, fast heartbeat and sweating, it needs to be treated immediately.
Treatment
- Take out the stingers or spines by gently tugging them out using a pair of tweezers. Be careful not to break the spines.
- Rub the affected area using sand, a paper towel or the edge of a credit card or similar object and then rinse the area using saltwater. When the nematocytes are already eliminated, rinse and clean the area thoroughly using warm fresh water.
- Pour vinegar to the adhering tentacles for at least 30 seconds to make the removal easy and safe. Generally, make sure to wear gloves when removing the tentacles.
- Apply the prescribed topical antibiotics such as hydrocortisone cream on the affected area.
- Apply cold packs on the sting site to relieve the pain from the sting. For other stings, apply hot water or cold packs which ever is better for the condition. In addition, another alternative is to take a hot shower as hot that can be.
- Take the prescribed analgesic to lessen the pain and inflammation.
- Avoid covering the wound to let it heal and allow the remaining embedded spines to surface.
- Get a tetanus vaccination if it is not up to date.
- Lastly, for a severe sea anemone sting that is accompanied by difficulty breathing, perform CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately.
Tips
- Follow warnings and precautionary measures of the lifeguards at the beach.
- Wear protective clothing if swimming in infested areas.
- In addition, avoid touching marine animals and plants if possible.
- Wear protective footwear if walking along the beach and be aware and conscious of the water.
- When removing stingers, wear protective covering for the hands such as gloves and avoid rubbing the affected areas with bare hands.
- Wear gloves when cleaning aquariums.
Disclaimer / More Information
The material posted on this page on a sea anemone sting is for learning purposes only. Learn to recognize and manage this type of marine animal sting by taking a first aid and CPR class with one of our training providers.
FACT CHECK
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_anemone
https://www.visualdx.com/visualdx/diagnosis/sea+anemone+sting?diagnosisId=54183&moduleId=42