GotoAID - Sea Star (Starfish) Puncture

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Sea Star (Starfish) Puncture

Sea stars are a type of starfish that can be found in coral reefs in tropical regions. They are beautiful creatures but some are venomous and can cause serious injury. Injury can occur from being punctured by the sea star’s spine or from the venom injected from the spine.

Symptoms

Severe Pain	Swelling
Itching	Burning

Steps

Use tweezers to remove any spines in the wound because symptoms may not go away until all spines have been removed.

If the person experiences chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, seek medical attention immediately.

Immerse the affected area in water as hot as the person can tolerate for 30-90 minutes. Repeat as necessary to control pain. This is not a proven therapy but may provide some relief.

Clean the wound with soap and water followed by extensive rinsing with fresh water.

Apply hydrocortisone cream 2-3 times daily as needed for itching and discontinue immediately if any signs of infection appear.

Apply topical antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin) 3 times per day. However, if signs of infection, such as pus, redness, or heat, are present seek medical attention.