Need help on SeaLice attack

[baitedstorm]

Hey guys, no laughing allowed... I need some help here. How long do these damn things last for? It's been almost a full week and there's no relief insight. I'm itchy , red, and bumpy

 

[ParamedicDiver1]

Hey guys, no laughing allowed... I need some help here. How long do these damn things last for? It's been almost a full week and there's no relief insight. I'm itchy , red, and bumpy

SEA LICE or Seabathers Eruption

Adult Thimble Jellyfish (Linuche unqui culata)

Mary T. RusselI, RN, MSN, CCRN, CEN

Full article: http://www.fau.edu/safe/sea-lice.html

The term "sea lice" apparently originated during the 1950s and was used by local U.S. residents in describing the condition. This popular term persisted, despite efforts by scientists to discourage use of such an inappropriate designation. Sea lice are actually small parasites that affect fish.

Beach goers sought their own remedies for the seasonal itchy rash. Folk remedies included the use of garlic, athletes foot spray, lemon, hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, spray starch, Epsom salts, and meat tenderizer. Unorthodox attempts to obtain relief included fingernail polish, undiluted bleach, ammonia, gasoline and turpentine. These are especially notable because they were used on extremely sensitive areas of people's bodies. The prevailing term, "sea lice," also encouraged the inappropriate use of head lice medication.

The suspected organism, barely visible except under excellent lighting, appears like a speck of finely ground pepper. Its size is approximately that of a pinhead floating on the surface layers of the water. The bathing suits worn by swimmers apparently trap variable numbers of larvae, with the fabric acting in a similar fashion to a net.

The surface area of a bathing suit may increase the area over which stings can occur. Female bathers wearing one-piece suits and children and adults wearing T-shirts in the water can increase the risk of a more severe reaction. It is not unusual to see evidence of 200 or more stings under a person's bathing suit.

The dermatitis usually becomes noticeable between 4 and 24 hours after exposure, although some persons do complain of a "prickling" sensation while still in the water. Persons who have had previous exposure to seabather's eruption, such as lifeguards, tend to have immediate stinging sensations on reexposure. Unfortunately, the only way that beach goers could be warned of the presence of this marine organism in the water was when lifeguards had the dermatitis during their early morning swims. Beach messages specifically warning about "sea lice" have been used since 1989 at access points to public beaches in Palm Beach County. However, no information is available for visitors entering many private beaches owned by hotels and motels.

Lesions associated with seabather's eruption. Extended areas of rash may be caused by larvae trapped by wearing a T-shirt in the ocean, or in areas of exposed skin.
Lesions associated with seabather's eruption have ranged from a barely discernible macular rash in those with no history of previous exposure to the largely typical maculopapular and occasionally vesicular eruption noted by most. Those with a history of exposure to the organisms have noted urticarial lesions at the onset of reexposure. The dermatitis usually resolves within 1 week, although reactivation of initial lesions has been reported at intervals lasting several weeks or longer.

Probably because of the intense itching, many persons report difficultyt in sleeping. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakcills, muscle spasms, arthralgias, and a sense of malaise. It is unknown whether some of these symptoms reflect the ingestion of infected seawater or are manifestations of a systemic immune response. A retrospective case review of records of persons treated in an emergency department at the geographic center for seabathers eruption noted fever (temperatures greater than 101 degrees F) in 8 of the 57 cases, All 8 cases occurred among children 11years of age or younger. The highest recorded temperature was 103.4 degrees F.

TREATMENT:
Treatment of this dermatitis currently includes the administration of an antihistamine, such diphenhydramine, for the itching and the application of an over-the-counter 0.5% hydrocortisone cream to the rash areas. Persons suffering from exteneruptions, with or without urticaria, or with recurrences of symptoms may benefit from the administration of epinepherine as well as oral or intramuscular steroids. A prescription for 1.0% corticosteroid cream can also be given.

Comfort measures include bathing in a colloidal oatmeal preparation and applying calamine lotion. The latter may be good for children, who benefit from its visual placebo effect. Diphenhydramine and calamine (Caladryl) lotion should not be applied when an oral antihistamine is being used to avoid toxic effects, especially in children. Caution is also in order, to make sure that steroid creams, in combination with oral steroids, are not overused. This may occur when large body surfaces are involved.

As noted, children with seabather's eruption tend to exhibit febrile reactions more frequently than adults, probably because of their immune response. Parents should be observant and treat the symptoms. An additional recommendation for children is to clip their fingernails short, to avoid scratching of lesions.

Good personal hygiene, especially in the perineal area, will help patients of any age to avoid secondary bacterial infections. Should a secondary infection occur, as evidenced by purulent lesions that are not resolving, follow-up care with a dermatologist is recommended.

Any rash needs a thorough evaluation to rule out possible communicable causes. The key to the diagnosis of seabather's eruption is a history of ocean exposure followed by the development of a dermatitis within 24 hours of exposure. Multiple persons within one household are typically affected. Persons with the rash of seabather's eruption are not considered contagious.

PREVENTION:
Outbreaks of seabather's eruption occur intermittently between March and August, but they appear to peak during early April through early July. There have been many days when no infestations have occurred. Beach goers need to listen to local beach reports and observe daily posted beach messages in affected areas. The following recommendations may also help in minimizing the number of stings:

1. Each beach goer needs to assess his or her individual risk of an immune response. Persons with a history of a severe reaction should confine their beach activities to land, or use pool facilities instead, during outbreaks.

2. Swimmers should avoid wearing T-shirts while in the ocean. Use of a topical sunscreen and limiting sun exposure protects against solar injury. There is some evidence that use of a topical sunscreen or suntan lotion may actually protect skin from penetration by the nematocysts.

3. Women should consider two-piece instead of one-piece bathing suits, to reduce the surface area of swimwear that could trap larvae. It is possible that smooth, tight weave bathing suits may trap fewer larvae than suits with an open-weave fabric.

4. After ocean exposure, swimmers need to change out of their bathing suits as soon as possible after exiting from the water. Most lesions have occurred from contact with contaminated swimwear. Removal of possibly contaminated swimwear, followed by a shower to rinse off loose larvae, should limit the number of stings. If showers are in a public area, it is suggested that people bring a second suit to the beach; after removing the first, possibly contaminated suit, they can don the second suit and then shower. Showering with fresh water while still wearing a contaminated bathing suit could cause discharge of nematocysts trapped in the fabric of the suit.

5. Bathing suits should be thoroughly washed with detergent and heat-dried after use. Some have experienced a recurrence of symptoms when wearing suits that had only been air-dried. Air-dried nematocysts still have the potential to fire. A person who has had a severe reaction may be wise to discard the infested suit.

 

[Wildcard]

3. Women should consider two-piece instead of one-piece bathing suits, to reduce the surface area of swimwear that could trap larvae. It is possible that smooth, tight weave bathing suits may trap fewer larvae than suits with an open-weave fabric.

Here Here!!!!Less is better. Thats what Ive been saying all along! Best cure is to swim naked!!!!!! LOL

Some real great info there, thanks.

 

[dive_lover88]

Thanks Scott for the infomation...now i know more knowledge of the buggers!
Hey Wildcard why don't you start the ball rolling by doing it 1st

 

[the_cat_keeper]

The surface area of a bathing suit may increase the area over which stings can occur. Female bathers wearing one-piece suits and children and adults wearing T-shirts in the water can increase the risk of a more severe reaction. It is not unusual to see evidence of 200 or more stings under a person's bathing suit.
... ...
3. Women should consider two-piece instead of one-piece bathing suits, to reduce the surface area of swimwear that could trap larvae. It is possible that smooth, tight weave bathing suits may trap fewer larvae than suits with an open-weave fabric.

Mmm... wearing less works?!?! Maybe we should all go nude then!