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Sea Urchin
Aka: Sea Urchin, Echinoderm Sting
- See Also
- Marine Envenomation
- Neurotoxin
- Marine Injury
- Background
- Sea Urchins are in Echinoderm family
- Pathophysiology
- Sea Urchin has spines with toxin coating
- Spines break-off in skin and may be nidus of infection
- Symptoms
- Pain or burning at Trauma site
- Skin Discoloration or Tattooing
- Resolves within 48 hours if no retained spine in skin
- Management
- Remove visible spines with forceps
- Retained spines: Historical method
- Hot wax applied to area and allowed to cool
- Wax should not be so hot to cause burns
- Remove wax with embedded spines
- Consider applying ammonia to dissolve retained spines
- Observe for signs of secondary infection
- References
- Habif (1996) Dermatology, p. 491
- Perkins (2004) Am Fam Physician 69(4): 885-90 [PubMed]