Causes of marine envenoming and penetrating marine injuries

This monograph discusses the general management of marine envenoming and penetrating injuries (eg due to bites, stings, barbs or spines) from marine animals. For management advice regarding ingestion of poisonous fish, see Overview of marine poisonings, and ciguatoxin, scombroid and tetrodotoxin poisoning monographs.

Venomous marine animals produce toxins in specialised glands and apply or inject these toxins parenterally. Effects range from transient pain to life-threatening envenoming syndromes. Envenomings by various jellyfish, particularly around the coast of northern Australia, are the most common presentations. Specific management advice is given for the following medically important Australian jellyfish:

• bluebottles jellyfish (Physalia species)
• major box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri)
• Carukia barnesi and other box jellyfish that cause Irukandji syndrome
• other jellyfish—mauve stinger (Pelagica species), hair jellyfish (Cyanea species), jimble ((Carybdea rastoni) and other box jellyfish (Chiropsalmus species).

Specific management advice is also given for other Australian marine animals that cause envenoming or penetrating injuries:

• venomous fish (catfish, stonefish and scorpion fish)
• stingrays
• sea urchins
• blue-ringed octopuses
• sea snakes.

For the management of contact dermatitis due to sponges, see here.