A Cautionary Tale

[g2]

I just finished a really long scuba trip, diving most days for 6 weeks straight in a tropical climate. I took care to stay hydrated and out of the sun, but the one thing I couldn't help was being wet for several hours each day. This was a real problem because my skin never got a chance to fully dry out.

At about week number 4 I noticed that some small cuts and mosquito bites were not healing properly. In fact, they were getting a bit infected. No problem, I thought, I had iodine and a first aid kit, so I took care of them. (*Now* I carry a dry antibiotic.) This went on for another week, stabilized although not cured, but I continued diving. At week 5 things suddenly took a turn for the worse. Several of the infected bites blossomed into full blown skin ulcers. It was so bad that I stopped diving and went to a doctor -- I should have gone sooner. I'm still healing, with antibiotics, but I expect to have some noticeable scars when I'm done.

Based I what I know now, this kind of flesh-eating nastiness is common in tropical climates, and the most susceptible area for infection is where the skin is thin over bones, with no meat underneath, like on your shins -- which is where it happened on me. If it gets bad enough it can do you serious damage.

(Comments doc?)

Cheers,

g2

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

Sounds like what your describing is 'jungle rot'

Ed

 

[Rick Murchison]

Yep... or, as we used to call it, the Southeast Asian Creepin' Crud. I still have some scars.
Rick

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

Ya know am told some odd types of vd has signs like that haha

Ed

 

[Butch103]

that was nasty.......but funny...LOL

 

[scubadoc]

Hello g2:

I first read your question and thought - 'just another bout of chronic dermatitis in someone constantly wet' - but then also thought immediately 'there are many dive instructors, dive masters and other divers who stay pretty much wet all the time who don't have this problem!'. The next thought was ' is there some reason for this person to have non-healing skin lesions other than the moisture?'

It might be wise for you to have a good check-up to rule out a medical reason for your condition, such as diabetes, poor circulation, or are immunosuppressed by medications or some problem with a decreased immune response.

Our normal immune response usually protects us from the marine organisms such as vibrio species. However, when immunity is suppressed or diminished these bacteria can cause serious life endangering infections.

If you are interested you can get more information at our web page at http://www.scuba-doc.com/marinf.htm

Ern Campbell, MD
scubadoc
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com/

Ten Foot Stop Newsletter
http://snipurl.com/buk8

 

[Joe R.]

What you described sounds familiar. I've heard of either a sea lice or a similar...(flea) organism that comes with thimble jellyfish. I know we are warned (discreetly) during our yearly trips to Cozumel. I'm sorry I don't know the remedy but its one of those little (annoyances) we often don't pay attention to until we 'have to'. I will pay more than the usual attention this year!