Seabather's eruption

Background

• Cnidaria larvae get trapped, release toxin
• Nematocysts of the larval forms of sea anemones: Edwardsiella lineata
• Thimble jellyfish: Linuche unguiculata

Clinical Features

Excoriated papules in areas covered by swimsuit. Box shows Linuche unguiculata, the thimble jellyfish, whose larvae and adult forms caused this dermatitis.

• Rash under bathing suit

Differential Diagnosis

Marine toxins, envenomations, and bites

• Toxins
  • Ciguatera
  • Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning
  • Paralytic shellfish poisoning
  • Scombroid
  • Tetrodotoxin (e.g. pufferfish)
• Stingers
  • Stingray injury
• Venomous fish (catfish, zebrafish, scorpion fish, stonefish)
  • Cone shells
  • Lionfish
  • Sea urchins
• Nematocysts
  • Coral reef
  • Fire coral
  • Jellyfish (Cnidaria)
    • Box jellyfish
    • Sea wasp
  • Portuguese man-of-war
  • Sea anemones
• Phylum porifera (sponges)
• Bites
  • Alligator and crocodile attacks
  • Octopus bite
  • Shark bite
• Infections
  • Vibrio species in saltwater
  • Aeromonas species in freshwater

Travel-related skin conditions

Papules

• Insect bites
• Scabies
• Seabather's eruption
• Cercarial dermatitis (Swimmer's Itch)

Sub Q Swelling and Nodules

• Myiasis
• Tungiasis
• Loa loa
• African Trypanosomiasis
• Onchocerciasis

Ulcers

• Pyoderma
• Leishmaniasis
• Mycobacterium marinum

Linear and Migratory Lesions

• Cutaneous larvae migrans
• Photodermatitis

See also domestic U.S. ectoparasites

See Also

• Parasitic Diseases
• Travel Medicine