First aid when pricked by sea urchins & bull; hello healthy

The sea does offer a myriad of eye-catching charms. However, you also have to be careful with the potential dangers of the biota that inhabit it. Sea urchins, for example. Pricked with sea urchin spines can cause a range of symptoms from mild to severe reactions.

What is sea urchin?

Image by  © Ralph Clevenger / Corbis

Sea urchins or also known as sea urchins are small sea creatures whose entire body is covered with sharp, venomous spines. Even though it looks creepy, basically sea urchins are not aggressive creatures. The sharp spines all over the animal's body serve as protection from predators.

Most people get stung when they accidentally step on or touch them. Yes, because it has a unique shape, some people (especially young children) often take sea urchins directly with their hands without realizing that this animal is venomous.

Sea urchins can be found easily in shallow, warm water, or in steep crevices.

Is sea urchin sting dangerous?

Basically, sea urchins have two defense systems, namely spines and pedicellariae.

The spines covering all the parts of this sea creature were sharp enough to pierce skin. The spines also break easily. As a result, when you are accidentally punctured, fragments of the spines can stick and remain in the inner skin.

The second self-defense system is pedicellariae. Pedicellariae are tiny, very delicate organs. This organ is located between the spines found in sea urchins. Pedecellariae functions to release toxins when sea urchins stick to an object. Including when you accidentally step on this one marine animal.

What are the symptoms of sea urchin stings?

When you are enjoying swimming in the sea, your feet may accidentally step on this creature. The sensation of being pricked by sea urchins is the same as when you accidentally pick a thorn from a plant or flower. The difference is, the sensation of stinging sea urchins is more painful.

When you are pricked by a thorn, the thorn will break and stick in the skin. If the sea urchin spines stick into the skin, usually the puncture area will be blackish blue like a bruise.

This creature often leaves stab wounds on the skin, which can easily become infected if not treated promptly. The area affected by the sting is usually painful, itchy, sore, reddish in color, and becomes swollen.

If the stab wound is too deep, you could be seriously injured. Especially if after being pricked you also experience symptoms such as:

• Muscle ache
• Limp, lethargic, and weak
• Paralysis
• Shock

In severe cases, the above symptoms can also lead to respiratory failure and even death.

Steps to treat sea urchin stings

Here's how to perform first aid when exposed to sea urchin stings:

• The first thing you should do when you accidentally step on sea urchins is to stay calm and don't panic. Remember, panic will make you move even more rowdy. This can actually accelerate the spread of toxins to other parts of the body.
• After that, immediately pull over to the mainland.
• Then soak the sting area in warm water for 30-90 minutes to reduce the pain as well as soften the urchin spines that stick in the skin.
• Slowly, try to pull out as many of the thorns as you can. If possible, use tweezers to facilitate the process of removing large thorns embedded in the skin. You can also use a razor to scrape off pedicellaria. Make sure you use the razor carefully.
• After successfully removing the stuck thorns, immediately rinse the affected area with soap and clean water. This is done to avoid infection in the affected area.

The biggest problem to watch out for is the sea urchin's spines which often break under the skin. Therefore, be careful when removing these thorns from your skin. Make sure you can take the thorns whole, so that nothing remains in the skin.

You can also reduce pain by taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the puncture area feels itchy, you can also use a topical hydrocortisone cream, which can be purchased over-the-counter at a drugstore. It's best to stop using hydrocortisone drugs immediately and contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse.

Using a topical antibiotic cream such as Neosporin on the affected area can also help relieve any symptoms. However, make sure you consult your doctor first before using antibiotics. The reason is, antibiotic drugs should not be used carelessly.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical help immediately if you have a thorn you cannot remove or it is too painful to remove. In addition, you are also required to consult a doctor immediately if:

• Experiencing pain that doesn't go away after three to four days of being stung by sea urchins.
• There are signs of infection in the sting area and other parts of the body.
• You experience muscle pain and extreme fatigue.

Doctors generally will conduct a series of examinations first before recommending certain treatments.

The doctor will first ask about when the sting occurred and what symptoms you are complaining about. After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination by looking at the part of the body that was stung.

If the doctor suspects that there is a thorn remaining in your skin, the doctor may order an X-ray with an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI. If the thorn is implanted in the body or near a joint, the doctor may require surgical removal.

Your doctor can also prescribe antibiotics and recommend that you get a tetanus shot.