Stings, What looks beautiful but pack a painful sting? Options

[Massive Headwoun...]

Hydroids

"DURING a recent dive, my partner motioned for me to look at something he found. I squinted into the dark crack where he was pointing. What is that moving around back there? I wondered. Shrimp? I leaned closer. Yes. Here was a group of odd but charming shrimp, a species I hadn't seen before.

I leaned into the cave to get a better look, but my giant, bubbling face alarmed the little creatures. They moved toward the back of their shelter.

Determined to see them better, I adjusted my grip to push myself forward. Then . . . Ouch! A sharp pain on the underside of my right wrist made me jerk my arm up. I looked down. My hand had been resting near what looked like a lovely bouquet of white feathers. But the angelic appearance of these plumes didn't trick me. I knew I had just received my first hydroid sting." - Susan Scott

[Massive Headwoun...]

Hydroids look like delicate seaweeds, but they are actually animals, closely related to corals, jellyfish, sea anemones and Portuguese man-of-war.

At least 28 species of hydroids, most standing only a few inches tall, inhabit the shallow waters. They are also common along coastlines nearly everywhere else in the world. Rocks, boat bottoms, and piers often bear colonies of these delicate creatures.

The dainty appearance of these animals is deceiving. Hydroids are carnivores, using their nematocyst-laden feeding tentacles, positioned along their "branches", to sting and catch passing shrimp, worms and animal plankton.

These stinging nematocysts also discharge venom into human skin upon contact. Hydroid stings are fairly common among people who clean fouled boat bottoms. Also, scuba divers sometimes get hydroid stings by accidentally brushing up against a colony, like I did during the shrimp incident.

Most hydroid stings almost immediately produce small red bumps that remain itchy and painful for hours. Sometime victims feel a prickly sensation. This rash can last up to 10 days. Skin with hair on it usually has less reaction than bare skin. More-severe sting reactions are blisters, swelling and hives.

No cure exists. Rinse the sting with water, (salt or fresh), to wash away any adhering nematocysts, then apply ice for pain. For persistent itching or skin rash, try 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment four times a day, and one or two 25 milligram diphenhydramine (Benadryl) tablets every six hours. Diphenhydramine may cause drowsiness so don't drive, swim or surf after taking this medication. Both these drugs are sold without prescription.

If the rash worsens, allergic symptoms occur, or a feeling of generalized illness develops, see a doctor immediately.

[Massive Headwoun...]

A marine sting or bit is from any form of marine life - here in the Keys its salt-water creatures that create the injury. Most of the time in the Keys, for recreational swimming, diving and snorkeling, the stings come primarily from jellyfish and sea lice, though the following are common marine animals that can cause bite or sting injury:

Jellyfish (not all types sting)
Portuguese man of war (a type of jellyfish)
Stingray (not all rays have stingers)
Scorpion Fish
Stonefish
Catfish
Lionfish
Sea urchin
Sea anemone
Hydroid
Coral - especially fire coral
Sea Lice

[Massive Headwoun...]

Common symptoms are: Pain, Stinging, Swelling, Redness, Numbness, Rash, Itching, and Open Wounds (as when you get bit)

What can you do to prevent these?

- Wear Water Shoes - we make everyone on our boat do this when we're out exploring the sandbars and islands. Protect your feet.
- Don't run into the water or dive headfirst - OK, just use common sense with diving in, and don't run so fast you'll fall down onto sharp things.
- If you don't know what it is -- DON'T TOUCH IT! The other part of this is to learn what things are, and what things sting and bite and which don't
- Do not swim with open wounds
- Don't wear bright shiny clothing, jewelry or equipment - this is primarily true in murky water of low visibility. On the reef in the daytime, where fish can see what you are, it's not as much of a problem but a little shiny lure hanging around your neck could still prompt a fish to go for it.
- Don't hang your body parts over the side of the boat while chumming the water! A couple of kids have lost toes around Boot Key Harbor because of this. This is especially true at dusk and night. - and certainly don't swim while chumming!
- Avoid swimming or hanging your body parts in the water during feeding times of dawn and dusk, and avoid night time swimming. (Snorkelers and Divers on reefs can of course enjoy the life after dark, but this is a bit different than just flailing around in the darkness anywhere).
- Use the oily lotions before you get in the water to ward off stings from sea lice
- Push floating seaweed away from you - it harbors sea lice during that season

What i've learnt- wear full suit. Dont be so caught up with taking pictures...

This post has been edited by Massive Headwound: Nov 23 2007, 07:12 PM

[I-NSC]

A marine sting or bit is from any form of marine life - here in the Keys its salt-water creatures that create the injury. Most of the time in the Keys, for recreational swimming, diving and snorkeling, the stings come primarily from jellyfish and sea lice, though the following are common marine animals that can cause bite or sting injury:

Jellyfish (not all types sting)
Portuguese man of war (a type of jellyfish)
Stingray (not all rays have stingers)
Scorpion Fish
Stonefish
Catfish
Lionfish
Sea urchin
Sea anemone
Hydroid
Coral - especially fire coral
Sea Lice

Good job for posting this... and also the suggested medical treatment.. best person to ask .. since you have background in medical stuff yeah?

[Massive Headwoun...]

A marine sting or bit is from any form of marine life - here in the Keys its salt-water creatures that create the injury. Most of the time in the Keys, for recreational swimming, diving and snorkeling, the stings come primarily from jellyfish and sea lice, though the following are common marine animals that can cause bite or sting injury:

Jellyfish (not all types sting)
Portuguese man of war (a type of jellyfish)
Stingray (not all rays have stingers)
Scorpion Fish
Stonefish
Catfish
Lionfish
Sea urchin
Sea anemone
Hydroid
Coral - especially fire coral
Sea Lice

Good job for posting this... and also the suggested medical treatment.. best person to ask .. since you have background in medical stuff yeah?

I was inspired when i read the message from henry from the regulator set thread

This post has been edited by Massive Headwound: Nov 23 2007, 07:14 PM

[Massive Headwoun...]

I recommends that you follow up with a Doctor in these situations:

You have a sign of an infection (redness, swelling, pain, drainage, fever)
Uncontrolled bleeding
If you have not had a tetanus shot in 5 years
Any problem with the wound that bothers you should be reported to your doctor.

For me,
I went for a tetanus shot ( this however have to be done within 6 days of accident)

*tetanus toxoid*
The tetanus vaccine is an inactivated toxin (poison) called a toxoid. It is made by growing the bacteria in a liquid medium and purifying and inactivating the toxin. Because it is not a live vaccine, a person's immunity tends to decline with time, which is why booster doses are recommended.

[Massive Headwoun...]

HYDROIDS - Stings

Brushing against these delicate white or silvery tentacles can be painful. This is one of the most common injuries to divers on reefs - stinging hydroids. They may be very small, from 1 to 5 inches, and come in different shapes.

Mild to severe stinging occurs with possible welts on the skin.


Try vinegar, or a 50% solution of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Apply a hydrocortisone cream or lotion to the area twice daily. Don't rinse the area with fresh water! (causes more firing of nematocysts and stinging), and don't rub the area with your hand.


DO NOT apply an ice pack. All of these will only make it worse. I did this... makes the pain go away for a minute!!! but the blisters will be worst!!!

[Massive Headwoun...]

Day 2 of how it looks



Day 5...



And day 7...






This post has been edited by Massive Headwound: Nov 23 2007, 07:37 PM

[scotty]

errr...MH, this is the pics of ur hands ah>???? terrifying la..

[Massive Headwoun...]

errr...MH, this is the pics of ur hands ah>???? terrifying la..

what do you think?

[hkloo]

Wah! Looks like very scarely. How does this thing looks like underwater? Got picture?

[scotty]

errr...MH, this is the pics of ur hands ah>???? terrifying la..

what do you think?

i think got nice legs...hahahha

[Massive Headwoun...]

Wah! Looks like very scarely. How does this thing looks like underwater? Got picture?

Stinging Hydroid (Aglaophenia cupressina). Also known as Fire Hydroid.
This is the exact spot.

Another pic...

[hkloo]

Really looks like seaweeds. How to tell the difference? Where do you normally find them? What kind of depth, bottom composition?

[Massive Headwoun...]

HKLOO,

We see them all the time... I never tot they were like Jelly fish, an animal...
in fact, after some reading, The word hydroid means water animals.

Other hydroids often look like ferny fronds growing from rocks. Stinging hydroids are commonly found attached to rocks, wrecks, shells, sponges and corals and look like ferns with a central stalk and many side branches.

Not to be confused with Fire coral, which looks like dead branching hard coral with no visible tissue, mucus or polyps. The fire coral is different: it looks like a hard coral.



Hydroid ID

[melvin lee]

MH , try Gentriderm cream ... it work. I also sting by hydroid when diving at tulamben.

[bubble]

Nemo can be poisons too, I was bitten by them during lembeh trip and it take 3 weeks to recover . now ( after 3 months ) the scar still cannot disappear.

[SayLeng]

Even the soft anemones that nemo lives in can sting. And some other some coral too. Feels like on fire underwater. It's long wetsuit all the time now.

[Alopias]

This tell you not to mess with their eggs anymore... hehehe

Nemo can be poisons too, I was bitten by them during lembeh trip and it take 3 weeks to recover . now ( after 3 months ) the scar still cannot disappear.

[Massive Headwoun...]

This tell you not to mess with their eggs anymore... hehehe

Nemo can be poisons too, I was bitten by them during lembeh trip and it take 3 weeks to recover . now ( after 3 months ) the scar still cannot disappear.

Hahahha...
wanna goreng telur... but i like the pics

[Massive Headwoun...]

MH , try Gentriderm cream ... it work. I also sting by hydroid when diving at tulamben.

got pic of your scar?

pls post...

[bubble]

This tell you not to mess with their eggs anymore... hehehe

Nemo can be poisons too, I was bitten by them during lembeh trip and it take 3 weeks to recover . now ( after 3 months ) the scar still cannot disappear.

This tell me to wear hand glove next time .

[SayLeng]

Liberty@Tulamben, Bali - Sept 2006.
You show me yours, I show you mine.

Keeping an eye on my wife and forgot to pay attention to myself and surrounding. Planted a knee into the soft coral. Started as an itch. Changed to a burning sensation and getting more intense by the minute. Poured vinegar on the knee, ate an antihistamine pill and applied Fusicort cream. Slight scarring still visible until today. This is why I always tell newbies to forget about the shorties and go for the long wetsuit.

[Massive Headwoun...]

Liberty@Tulamben, Bali - Sept 2006.
You show me yours, I show you mine.

Keeping an eye on my wife and forgot to pay attention to myself and surrounding. Planted a knee into the soft coral. Started as an itch. Changed to a burning sensation and getting more intense by the minute. Poured vinegar on the knee, ate an antihistamine pill and applied Fusicort cream. Slight scarring still visible until today. This is why I always tell newbies to forget about the shorties and go for the long wetsuit.

I get goosebumps looking at this...
any pics of that anemone/coral?

[SayLeng]

Still gives me the bumps too.

It's the flat round shaped pizza types. No pix. I didn't realize I got stung that bad until later when the burning sensation started.

[Vincent]

Ouch!! That look painful.

Anything we can do to minimise the pain??

This post has been edited by Vincent: Nov 25 2007, 12:35 AM

[Bluemoon]

Ouch!! That look painful.

Anything we can do to minimise the pain??

Yes...pain killer.....kidding....! By the way, thanks MH　ａｎｄ　Ｓａｙｌｅｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｅｔａｉｌ．　Ｉｔ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｈｅｌｐｕｌ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｗｂｉｅｓ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｍｅ．

[Charles Chong]

MH,

Guess we had the same looks of wounds from the hydriod stings but just I had it at both my arms and forehand.....it's getting much better now after last week's injection of anti-histamine and steroid.

Will try post the photos here to compare ya

Hope ya get well soon,

Regards,

Charles

[Charles Chong]

My pics of the hydroid stings :





Those stings looks dried up now -



Regards,

Charles

Suggestion is purchase a spray call "Stingose", roughly around RM 16 which can get at Guardian or Watson, ever find itch or pain after diving with possible stings from any creatures like jellyfish, hydroids or corals, immediately spray it on the infected part, quite a good relief. If the wounds got serious strongly recommend have an injection of steroid and anti-histamine.

[Charles Chong]

Day 2 of how it looks



Day 5...



And day 7...

MH,

We both wear the same type of watch oh Looks like your wound is must worst than mine, hope u get well soon.

Regards,

Charles

[hkloo]

Hi, you got a pic of this Stingose? wise to keep one inside my aid kit.

[Charles Chong]

Hi, you got a pic of this Stingose? wise to keep one inside my aid kit.

Hi HKLoo,

Here's a pic of the Stingose I bought from Guardian. Should be cost around Rm16.



Hope that's help.

Regards,

Charles

[hkloo]

Hope you guys all recover soon from hydroid stings. I am still wearing shortie. So, I guess I need to be extra careful each dive.

[SayLeng]

Fusicort is a steroid cream. It's anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation and anti-pruitic (anti itch, I think.). Not sure if it's antiseptic though. A handy cream to have. Fusidin is same cream but without the steroids. Was told by my doc to apply this.

This post has been edited by SayLeng: Nov 26 2007, 02:51 PM

[Massive Headwoun...]

[Massive Headwoun...]

Bonjela - good for Mouth ulsers....
Calamine Lotion - relieves itchiness
Powerbar- if hungry
Nicol ear drop - eliminates ear infection
Mc D curry sos - eat with chicken mcnuggets
Stingose - makes my skin more itchy

PAIN cant be minimised... my case was bad, with high fever... freaked out alopias!

to recap lesson learnt: be careful and wear full wetsuit!

[Daijek]

Bonjela - good for Mouth ulsers....
Calamine Lotion - relieves itchiness
Powerbar- if hungry
Nicol ear drop - eliminates ear infection
Mc D curry sos - eat with chicken mcnuggets
Stingose - makes my skin more itchy

PAIN cant be minimised... my case was bad, with high fever... freaked out alopias!

to recap lesson learnt: be careful and wear full wetsuit!

Hi Massi headWo

You bring all this medicine along to dive trip?

All the items, i only interested in the powerBar..

Cheers

[hkloo]

Bonjela - good for Mouth ulsers....
Calamine Lotion - relieves itchiness
Powerbar- if hungry
Nicol ear drop - eliminates ear infection
Mc D curry sos - eat with chicken mcnuggets
Stingose - makes my skin more itchy

PAIN cant be minimised... my case was bad, with high fever... freaked out alopias!

to recap lesson learnt: be careful and wear full wetsuit!

Didn't see the Mc D curry sos??

[aarontee]

Charles,

this stings will take a long long time to dry up. it will cause itchiness, skin will peels off when u scratch it. the whole thing will turn black eventually.