HELP! treatment for coral sting?

[ginnymin]

hello! 10 days ago (last monday) i went diving in jamaica. on one of the dives we descended/ascended via rope, which had coral/marine life growing on it. i noticed upon surfacing that my hands itched a bit, but it went away after 5-10 min. all was fine until this morning, 10 days later, when i woke up and my hands were swelling and itching (much like poison ivy). i assume this is from the coral contact on the rope, since i can't think of anything else that i've been in contact with with both hands in such a way.

is it normal for the symptoms to occur so many days afterward?
will it spread like poison ivy does?
will it heal itself in the long run?
and what treatment is possible?

i'm not a huge fan of going to the doctor for something like this (unless absolutely necessary), as from previous cases like this (with poison ivy and etc), i usually just rode it out for a few days until it got better (and used lots of baking powder). if there are any specific household products that would help treat coral stings and alleviate the symptoms (i learned in EMT training that baking powder doesn't do anything really), that would be great. the problem here is that the swelling/itching covers both hands, which makes it more difficult to get through daily activities.

i'm never going to descent with the rope ever again!!!

thanks so much!
ginny

ginnymin@virginia.edu

 

[Scubaroo]

Call DAN, 1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm (EST) within the USA, even if you're not a member.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

Sounds like the rope was a permanent mooring? Um, you're really not supposed to touch anything like that with marine growth on it, even if wearing gloves, unless you're at risk of being swept away by current.

 

[joed]

Always were gloves. Always.

 

[Charlie99]

Calling DAN is always a good idea.

If you want to self medicate, I suggest alternating between hydrocortisone ointment, and Benadryl Gel (diphenhydramine hydrochloride topical analgesic).

I won't admit anything publically, but let's just say that a "close friend" got way to focussed in playing with a new camera and brushed a bit of fire coral with his hand, leaving a 1/2" x 2" patch.

Didn't seem like it was going to be any problem, but welted up about a week after exposure. Benadryl (external gel, not oral tablets) turned the welting back into just a mild rash in a day or two. The slight red markings took about 2 weeks before disappearing.

All in all, both the symptoms and the treatment were very similar to poison oak.

 

[DandyDon]

joed once bubbled...
Always were gloves. Always.

I always wear gloves on a wreck dive, or in cold water, however - many areas do not allow gloves to be worn on reef dives. The logic is that a newbie will be more careful about not touching the coral if not wearing gloves.

Of course, if holding onto the mooring rope, one runs the risk of being cut my barnacles, etc.

Scubaroo once bubbled...
Call DAN, 1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm (EST) within the USA, even if you're not a member.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

Sounds like the rope was a permanent mooring? Um, you're really not supposed to touch anything like that with marine growth on it, even if wearing gloves, unless you're at risk of being swept away by current.

Very good response, except - one can call 24/7 to talk with a dive doctor. If you're worried, that's what they're there for.

But are you sure about not touching mooring ropes? That's why they're there, is what I was taught.

And how does one avoid hand injuries if one is not supposed to wear gloves on a reef dive, but doesn't want to get cut by barnacles on the rope?

don

 

[Scubaroo]

I didn't want to see this thread turn into a gloves v no gloves debate, but do you really need to climb up and down a rope to descend and ascent from the dives? I mentioned current before - if there's plenty of current, and it's a permanent mooring line, then it's likely that there's little marine growth anyway because the rope is constantly being held by divers, stunting any growth, but if there's low current, then there's probably significant marine growth on the rope, and it should be a hands-off affair. Naturally conditions vary day to day, but I just don't see the need for divers to climb up ropes out of the water if there's not an issue with current.

I'm a firm believer in gloves however - screw getting cut on a wreck or stung by coral if you accidently brush or have to push off something.

Mooring ropes are there for boats to moor on saves trashing the bottom with an anchor every time a boat pulls up. I wish they'd install some in Monterey - I've seen metridiums ripped off rocks by the anchor of the dive boat, and another time found a live abalone upside down next to the anchor. Seeing as the rope is permanently in the water, usually over time it becomes its own little habitat in the water column for numerous creatures.

 

[ginnymin]

it was a mooring rope. we descended/ascended w/ the rope b/c we were told to do so by the ppl that were leading the dive. i only have the open water certification, and it was my first time diving in a LONG time, so i'm not that experienced and there are many things i do not know, like to NOT grab a rope w/ lots of things growing on it, or to get a pair of gloves. after this incident, though, i know better!

fyi, my hands are getting better, although still another day or two left before i can resume normal living. i did use all kinds of treatment, i.e. cortisone creams/baking powder/alcohol/etc, but i'm not sure if its getting better b/c of those things or b/c of just time passing by. right now its at the point where the swelling has stopped growing/spreading and the itching has gotten much less. i think i'm still taking a day off work tomorrow, as typing is a huge pain right now, much less many other things that i've taken for granted until now!

thank to all for your advice.