Sea anemone envenomation

Background[1]

  • Located worldwide in deep and coastal waters
  • Often attached to coral or rock
  • Appearance consists of a single polyp with a cylindrical body
  • Their mouths are surrounded by cnidocyte-containing tentacles
    • Cnidocytes are cells containing one giant secretory organelle called a cnidocyst that can deliver a sting to other organisms


Mechanism[2]

  • Anemone venom contains multiple enzymes including:
    • cytolytic/hemolytic toxins
    • neurotoxins
    • cardiotoxins
    • protease inhibitors

Clinical Features[3]

Differential Diagnosis

Marine toxins, envenomations, and bites

Management[4]

Disposition

See Also

  1. Hauglid, Christopher, DO, et al. “EMERGEN-SEA MEDICINE: An Overview of Sea Urchins, Coral, Starfish, and More.” ACEP Now, vol. 40, no. 7, 2021, pp. 8–9.
  2. Hauglid, Christopher, DO, et al. “EMERGEN-SEA MEDICINE: An Overview of Sea Urchins, Coral, Starfish, and More.” ACEP Now, vol. 40, no. 7, 2021, pp. 8–9.
  3. Hauglid, Christopher, DO, et al. “EMERGEN-SEA MEDICINE: An Overview of Sea Urchins, Coral, Starfish, and More.” ACEP Now, vol. 40, no. 7, 2021, pp. 8–9.
  4. Hauglid, Christopher, DO, et al. “EMERGEN-SEA MEDICINE: An Overview of Sea Urchins, Coral, Starfish, and More.” ACEP Now, vol. 40, no. 7, 2021, pp. 8–9.