help identifying cause of itching/rash

[adjuster-jd]

This is somewhat off-topic as it does not relate to diving, but is apparently an injury from some marine organism.

This afternoon my wife and I were swimming in the ocean- actually just playing in the waves near shore (Maui, Hawaii). Something apparently stung her on the chest - She had a pinching/stinging sensation in that area. When she came back to our room, she had only a small mark which was red and about 1/2 inch diameter. She got a prickling, burning sensation and then itching all over her arms and back. No evidence of anything stuck in her bathing suit or anything stuck into her skin. It is now over 5 hours later and the original sting site has only a small red mark, but the itching persists. She called a local doctor late tonight who said to take some benadryl and if it's still there she could come into the office in the morning. (She had already taken benadryl and used hydrocortisone cream, which aren't helping much).

I have searched the web for these symptoms and can't seem to find anything to match exactly.

Any ideas?

Please don't flame me for asking a non-diving question. I dive, she doesn't but I'm thinking that the marine experts her might have some idea what caused this and the best way to treat it.

Thanks.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Hopefully your wife is doing better this morning. It very well can be getting nailed by part of a broken up jellyfish. Although it does sound like an insect bite. Since your wife won't allow you to pee on it I'd try the old vinegar cure or meat tenderizer. I'm sure neither will do an insect bite any harm and if it's the jellyfish then that's the cure.

Doc did tell her the correct pill to take. It has worked for me. I got bit pretty good at one beach and used Benadryl and Longs anti itch cream.

 

[aquagirl]

I had an itching/rash spout after a couple of dives but I wasn't sure if it was caused by the dives so I hadn't brought it up to the attention of the board. The rash that she had around her arms and back - what did it look like? For me, I began itching around my back and arms as well. It was antagonizing but I applied topical creams (aloe, benadryl) and just forced myself not to itch. My rash looked liked little bumps - kind of like a heat rash. It was most noticeable on my hands. It took nearly a week for it to go away for me. I was away on holiday so I didn't get a chance to show it to my doctor. I still don't know how I got the rash but it came about after my afternoon dive. Hope you figure it out. I'd be interested to learn if my rash was related in any way.

 

[aquagirl]

I forgot to mention. I did notice that I swam by a jellyfish when I was diving. I tried to get out of the way but I don't think I quite made it. Never felt a sting though. So I'm not sure if its related.

 

[DocVikingo]

Even assuming that urine, vinegar or meat tenderizer would have been effective if used immediately, there is no reason to expect that they would have any benefit now considering the time elapsed since the sting.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

appreciate the advice Doc. I did use the meat tenderizer right away and the rash was gone within 15 minutes.

I was told that scratching those things makes it worse fast.