Tetanus prophylaxis should be given see table Tetanus Prophylaxis in Routine Wound Management Tetanus Prophylaxis in Routine Wound Management Tetanus is acute poisoning from a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani. Symptoms are intermittent tonic spasms of voluntary muscles. Spasm of the masseters accounts for the name lockjaw Use of antibiotics and surgical wound closure may be necessary.
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Videos Figures Images Quizzes Symptoms. Symptoms and Signs. Bites and Stings. Test your knowledge. A year-old boy is brought to the emergency department via ambulance after he was involved in a motor vehicle collision. Their flat bodies and gray color allow them to be camouflaged on the sea floor, where they move slowly to forage for their prey small fish and crustaceans like crabs and sea snails.
Interestingly, a stingray cannot see its prey because its eyes are on the upper side of its body, while its mouth and nostrils are on the underside. The dangerous part of a stingray is its infamous tail. The spinal blade is also known as the stinger or barb.
This stinger is covered with rows of sharp spines made of cartilage and is strong enough to pierce through the skin of an attacker. Not only does the puncture itself cause injury and pain, but the stinger also releases a complex venom, which leads to intense pain at the puncture site. Uncommon effects of the venom include headaches, nausea and vomiting, fainting, low blood pressure, arrhythmias of the heart, and even seizures. The most common sites of human envenomation are the legs and feet, which makes sense because the most common reason for envenomation is a swimmer unintentionally stepping on a stingray.
The envenomation is often limited to severe pain that is relieved when the area is submerged in hot water. However, complications such as infection, serious bleeding, or physical trauma can occur. Part of the spine can also remain embedded in the tissue and require medical intervention to remove it. Death is extremely rare and results not from the venom but from the puncture wound itself if it is in the chest, abdomen, or neck.
Death from serious infections like tetanus has also been reported. Treatment of stingray injuries starts with first aid. Because the puncture is often deep and considered dirty, there is high risk of infection. It's important to wash and disinfect the area immediately and obtain a tetanus vaccine or booster if needed. The wound should be inspected for any retained spines.
The standard treatment for the pain is hot water immersion. Medical evaluation and treatment in a hospital is necessary if there are any retained spines in the wound, if the puncture is deep, or if it involves the chest, abdomen, or neck. The best way to prevent being stung by a stingray is to avoid stepping on it when in the ocean by shuffling through the sand rather than lifting your feet and walking normally commonly referred to as the "stingray shuffle".
This will warn a stingray of your approach, and it will likely swim away. A pole or stick can also be used ahead of your feet. Divers should be cautious and avoid swimming close to the sea floor. But what usually happens when a stingray stings you is quite different than what happened to the Crocodile Hunter.
According to Very Well Health , that pain can last as long as two days and be accompanied by a bevy of additional symptoms including bleeding, inflammation , redness, or blue coloration at the wound site. Some also experience dizziness, muscle cramps, or weakness. Rare cases have seen victims exhibit seizures, low blood pressure, and pulse irregularity as well. Very Well Health reports that approximately 1, stingray stings happen in the U. Common injuries usually occur when the stingray is accidentally stepped on, so wounds tend to be on the feet and legs.
Fishermen , however, tend to get stung on the arms as they reach into nets to excise the stingray. Stingrays have long, thin tails that are tapered at the edge to look like a whip. These tails are tipped with barbed spines covered by a sheath. Hidden, barbed spines would be enough for most creatures, but not the stingray.
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