Marine Animal Bite or Sting
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.
A marine animal bite or sting happens when you are poisoned or wounded by an animal that lives in salt water. Marine animals that bite include barracudas, moray eels, and sharks. Animals that inject poison through tentacles include Portuguese man-of-war, jellyfish, and sea anemones. Broken tentacles can still sting for weeks or months after being separated from the animal, even if they are dried. Animals that sting with spines or barbs include stingrays and sea urchins.
WHILE YOU ARE HERE:
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is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
An IV
is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
Medicines:
You may be given the following medicines:
- Antibiotics help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
- Anti-venom may be given to fight the poison you received from the marine animal.
- Immune globulins is medicine given as a shot or an IV to make your immune system stronger. Immune globulins help your body prevent or fight an infection. The infusion may take 2 to 4 hours. You may need this treatment every 3 to 4 weeks.
- Medicines to treat pain, swelling, or fever can cause serious problems if you have liver or kidney disease or a history of bleeding in your stomach. Tell healthcare providers if you have any of these medical conditions before you receive the medicine.
- Muscle relaxers help decrease pain and muscle spasms.
- Steroids may be given to decrease inflammation.
- Td vaccine is a booster shot used to help prevent tetanus and diphtheria. The Td booster may be given to adolescents and adults every 10 years or for certain wounds and injuries.
Tests:
- Blood tests are used to check for an infection.
- A wound culture is used to grow and identify any germs in your wound. This helps healthcare providers find out if you have an infection and the best medicine to treat it.
- X-ray pictures are used to check for broken bones or objects such as spines or teeth.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on which marine animal caused the injury, and the location and how bad the injury is. It also depends on how long you have had the injury and if other body parts were affected. You may need any of the following:
- Wound cleaning is done to remove pieces of teeth, tentacles, or spine left inside the skin. Objects, dirt, or dead tissues from the open wound will be removed. Your healthcare provider may soak the wound. The wound will be cleaned with soap, water, and antibacterial solution. This helps wash away germs that may be in the wound, and decrease the risk for infection. Healthcare providers may drain the wound to clean out pus.
- Medicines may be given to prevent or fight a bacterial infection, pain, or swelling. You may need tetanus shots, immune globulins, or antivenom medicine. You may also receive oxygen or a blood transfusion.
- Stitches may be needed to close the wound. You may need surgery to repair a broken bone or damaged joint, tendon, or nerve. Rarely, you may need surgery to rebuild or remove the body part with the bite wound.
- A blood transfusion replaces blood in your body to help it work properly. A blood transfusion is given through an IV. Blood is tested for safety before it is used.
RISKS:
You may have severe loss of blood and tissues. Marine bites or stings that are not treated may lead to more serious problems, such as infections and severe allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions may cause life-threatening problems such as irregular heartbeats, breathing problems, or coma.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.© Copyright Merative 2025 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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