First Aid When Pierced Boar Hair • Hello Sehat
The sea does offer a myriad of eye-catching charms. However, you also have to be careful with the potential dangers of the biota inhabitants, for example sea urchins. When pricked, the spines of the animal, known as a sea urchin, can cause mild to severe symptoms. So, what is the proper way of first aid when pierced by Balinese hair?
What is sea urchin?
Sea urchins or also known as sea urchins are small sea creatures whose entire body is covered with sharp poisonous spines.
Sea urchins can be found easily in shallow, warm water, or in steep crevices.
As creepy as they may seem, pig fur is not an aggressive creature. The sharp spines all over the animal’s body serve as protection from predators.
Basically, sea urchins have two defense systems, namely spines and pedicellariae.
The spines covering all of the sea creatures’ parts are sharp enough to pierce skin, but also break easily.
As a result, when you are accidentally punctured, fragments of the spines can stick and remain in the inner skin.
The second self defense system is pedicellarie, that is, a delicate organ located between the spines of a sea urchin.
According to the book Sea Urchin Toxicity, pedecellariae serves to release poison when sea urchins stick to an object. Including when you accidentally step on this one marine animal.
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Effects of sea urchins
Most people get pierced by sea urchins while swimming in the sea and accidentally step on or touch these marine animals.
Its unique shape makes some people interested in touching sea urchins directly, without realizing that the thorns contain dangerous toxins.
The sensation of being pricked by sea urchins was not the same as being stung by a jellyfish, but rather like being pricked by a thorn from a flower. The difference is, the prickling sensation of sea urchin spines is more painful.
The part of the skin affected by the puncture is usually painful, itchy, sore, reddish in color, and becomes swollen.
If the stab wound is too deep, you could be seriously injured. The effects of exposure to the poison of sea urchin spines also cause the following symptoms.
- Muscle ache
- Limp, lethargic and powerless
- Paralysis
- Shock
In severe cases, the above symptoms can also lead to respiratory failure and even death.
In addition, sea urchin thorn prickles often leave sores on the skin which can easily lead to wound infection, especially if not treated promptly.
Steps to treat sea urchin stings
Based on a study entitled Treatment of Sea Urchin Injuries, here is how to perform first aid when exposed to sea urchin stings.
1. Soak the wound
The first thing you should do when you accidentally step on sea urchins is to stay calm and don’t panic.
Remember, panic will make you move even more rowdy. This can actually accelerate the spread of toxins to other parts of the body. After that, immediately pull over to the mainland.
Immediately soak the sting area in warm water or salt water for 30-90 minutes to reduce pain and soften the sea urchin spines that stick to the skin.
In addition, soaking the affected part of the skin can also reduce swelling of the skin.
It is important to know, using urine to soak sea urchin stab wounds is not the right way, but it increases the risk of infection from germs found in urine.
2. Get rid of thorns
Slowly, try to remove as many of the bristles as you can. If possible, use tweezers to remove the large thorns embedded in the skin.
You can also use a razor to scrape pedicellaria left on the skin. Make sure you use the razor carefully.
After successfully removing the stuck thorns, immediately clean the wound with soap and clean water. This is done to avoid infection in the affected area.
The biggest problem to watch out for is the sea urchin’s spines which often break under the skin. Therefore, be careful when removing these thorns from your skin.
Make sure you can take the thorns whole, so that nothing remains in the skin.
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3. Take pain relievers
You can also reduce pain from the puncture wound by taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If the puncture area feels itchy, you can also use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment.
It’s best to stop using hydrocortisone drugs immediately and contact your doctor if the symptoms of open sores get worse.
Using a topical antibiotic cream such as Neosporin on the affected area can also help relieve any symptoms.
However, make sure you consult your doctor first before using antibiotics. The reason is, antibiotic drugs should not be used carelessly.
When to see a doctor immediately?
Seek medical help immediately if you have a thorn you cannot remove or the wound hurts too much to clean.
In addition, you are also required to consult a doctor immediately if you experience the conditions below.
- Experiencing pain that doesn’t go away after three to four days of being stung by sea urchins.
- There are signs of infection in the sting area and other parts of the body.
- You experience extreme muscle pain and fatigue.
Doctors generally will conduct a series of examinations first before recommending certain treatments.
The doctor will first ask about when the sting occurred and what symptoms you are complaining about.
After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination by looking at the part of the body that was pierced by sea urchins.
If your doctor suspects that you have sea urchin spines left inside your skin, your doctor may order an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI.
If the thorn is implanted in the body or near the joint, the doctor may require surgical removal.
Your doctor can also prescribe antibiotics and recommend that you get a tetanus shot.
Getting medical care will make the wound healing process faster. The harmful effects of sea urchins can be prevented immediately.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
