Comments on The Right Blue: Fire Coral: Look, but do not touch

i had a bad encounter with fire coral once, its no...

2012-01-23T03:53:15.536-10:00

i had a bad encounter with fire coral once, its not actually a coral its more closely kin to a jellyfish, the sting was potent but only hurt me for about 3 days.

I'm now scared to go to the Caymen Islands...

2011-11-05T10:37:36.942-10:00

I'm now scared to go to the Caymen Islands...

This happened over 40 years ago but, maybe it will...

2011-10-21T04:04:39.759-10:00

This happened over 40 years ago but, maybe it will help. While making a beach landing (in the South Pacific) I rolled over a broken piece of fire coral with the inside of my right lower leg. There were several punctures where the coral was in bedded in my leg. Didn’t have time to administer any further First-Aid at the time. The fire coral had probably been broken off by a storm the night before our landing. After three days ashore, we made it back to the ship where we found the inside of my ankle from sole of foot to 4 inches above the ankle bone were infected and had turned almost black from blood pooling. The doc who had been stationed at Pearl Harbor prior to this assignment, put me on a powerful broad spectrum antibiotic. (He said when I took it, it would cure my buddies infection. Lol) It all cleared up but then little pieces started surfacing and getting snagged when I would pull on my socks. I would pick out a tiny speck of coral (about twice the size of a large grain of sand) from my leg. This went on for about 3 more years. But all burning and itching stopped after the antibiotic course.

To all of you who have been battling this long ter...

2011-10-12T16:34:15.894-10:00

To all of you who have been battling this long term, have you found any solutions to the burning/itching? I have had mine for 4 months, and live in Idaho where they have no experience. I have tried all the over the counter options, high dose steroids and today they did a biopsy of the area, I don't think they're going to find an answer there either, but...so long term care..any options?

To anonymous. My son had the same thing happen- ab...

2011-08-19T11:02:20.291-10:00

To anonymous.
My son had the same thing happen- about 9 days later- course of oral steroids (prednisone) from doctor took it away, but now that he's off steroids, it's coming back- glad to hear he's not alone- but not sure what to do- and we live in AZ- nobody here knows what to do for this, much less even heard of it

BLUEBOX JELLYFISH DO NOT TOUCH!!!!!!!!

2011-04-25T01:44:27.022-10:00

BLUEBOX JELLYFISH DO NOT TOUCH!!!!!!!!

i ran into coral nearly 3 months ago scrapping my ...

2010-11-13T08:25:52.468-10:00

i ran into coral nearly 3 months ago scrapping my arm and foot a bit. My arm still swells and itches at the site of the scrape. It is not infected but slightly bothersome and looks a bit like eczema? I'm not sure what to do. Will it go away eventually?

i am in the same boat like nic and anonymous.. it ...

2010-11-05T15:37:57.261-10:00

i am in the same boat like nic and anonymous.. it came back after a week ..itching, burning and looks awful, i ve used antihistamine creams and its not working so what did the doctors tell u after it went back?? when does it completely go away ? doest it come back ever again after months of treatment ? please guys any help

Wow, that photo is amazing the detail is so intreg...

2010-10-14T00:30:04.327-10:00

Wow, that photo is amazing the detail is so intrege!!

I was in the Florida Keys, Islamorada, with my fam...

2010-08-16T06:13:03.075-10:00

I was in the Florida Keys, Islamorada, with my family. Two (out of six)of us picked up this orange spongy thing in the shallow water on the ocean side. About 20 minutes later our hands felt like they were full of splinters. We put vinegar on them and it got better slowly of the next day and a half. Now, 9 days later, the two of us woke up to swelling,itchy, hives on our hands.....Is this the same thing coming back???

I just returned from diving in Bonaire, and was ac...

2009-10-22T13:49:41.650-10:00

I just returned from diving in Bonaire, and was actually snorkeling when stung by fire coral. It's been about 10 days since the sting, and it is still red & raised, but doesn't itch or burn anymore. Just looks pretty bad, that and the sand flea bites, not too pretty!

Hello, I am in the same boat as Nicola. I was divi...

2009-02-22T05:15:00.000-10:00

Hello, I am in the same boat as Nicola. I was diving in Cozmel on February 13th and brushed up against fire coral as I was petting and admiring a sea turtle. Area of my skin stung pretty good when it happened. Dive Master didn't give any indications that I needed to do anything special, so after our next dive, laying on beach, and shopping, we boarded our cruise boat and I took a shower. Initially it was red in a few spots, stung in some others, but didn't see and reaction. A few days went by and it seemed red and raised and then seemed to be almost gone. the 20th, 7 days later, it came back, now I have large red welt's/blisters. Reminds me of when you get pircked by a sticker and it festers. It doesn't have a pus appearance/look infected. Are the spines maybe still in my skin? Has anyone heard of maybe lansing them and trying to squeeze the contents out, maybe if the transparent spine is in there, it will come out? All the web sites I have read state not to wash with fresh water and apply vinegar, well, it's a little late for that. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jacqueline

Hi Nicola - Sorry to hear about your Fire Coral e...

2009-01-09T08:17:00.000-10:00

Hi Nicola - Sorry to hear about your Fire Coral encounter. It probably would be a good idea to see your doc if the welts persist. Meanwhile, you could try some hydrocortisone cream, which is available over the counter in most places. However, if the welts look like they are infected, do not apply hydrocortisone unless directed by the doctor. In that case your doc may prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment.

Fire coral lesions do sometimes last for a long time, unfortunately. Hope yours get better very soon.

Bobbie

Look, but do not touch... for certain! We were sn...

2009-01-09T06:52:00.000-10:00

Look, but do not touch... for certain! We were snorkeling off Jost Van Dyke this New Year and I was unfortunate enough to brush up against Fire Coral. I have a huge welt(s) on my upper thigh. This happened on New Year's Day. After a day or so of agony from the burning, it finally subsided to a annoying itch... then it all but went away. Yesterday morning, I woke to a horrible itching and the welts have come back. The area is hot, red, welted and itches like crazy. Any idea why it would come back like this. Think I'm going to go to the dr. Any feedback would be brilliant. Thanks! Nicola

I was stung by fire coral while snorkeling in Guam...

2008-08-16T07:56:00.000-10:00

I was stung by fire coral while snorkeling in Guam while in the Navy in 1976. I fell onto the coral and it cut into my skin. Now, and for the last 10 years, I have a patch of seborrheic keratosis there on my back.
Does anybody have info on long term effects on the skin from having the nemocists more deeply imbedded in your skin and never doing anything medically about it?

Hi Anonymous - Fire coral stings are not the kind ...

2008-07-27T13:51:00.000-10:00

Hi Anonymous - Fire coral stings are not the kind of souvenir you'd hoped to bring back from Cozumel. Now that the itching and burning has stopped, you probably just need to be patient for the welts to go away, but do monitor them for any sign of infection. Keep the area scrupulously clean.

We always dive fully covered -- full suits, boots, etc., even in summer. It's all too easy, especially when doing photography, to accidentally brush against fire coral, or hydroids, or the odd stinging jellyfish. And if there's any surge at all, this can amplify the odds.

Hope your welts disappear very soon. Look after yourself.

Bobbie

Just back from Cozumel and a couple of us are now ...

2008-07-26T15:25:00.000-10:00

Just back from Cozumel and a couple of us are now wondering when the welts might go away. Not much burning or itching after 4 days but the 3 spots on the thumb are almost like raised blood blisters. There was contact on the leg as well but it's doing fine. I got closer then normal taking close up pictures. The water might have been great but I will have a dive skin on the next time!

Hi Anonymous - Don't know if you'll be coming back...

2008-01-17T18:47:00.000-10:00

Hi Anonymous - Don't know if you'll be coming back here to look for a reply, but in case you do -- at this point, if it still bothers you, try some hydrocortisone cream. The kind that you can buy over the counter at a drugstore or Wal-mart should help. If not, you could see your doc and get a prescription for a stronger version.

Hope this helps. We've been stung by fire coral on a few occasions, and I know how miserable it can be.

Bobbie

The inside of my knee hit a fire coral in Bonaire ...

2008-01-17T18:41:00.000-10:00

The inside of my knee hit a fire coral in Bonaire just a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know what it was at first until someone told me an hour or so later what it was. The sting felt like a ton of bee stings at once. I was told not to rub it, which I had been doing for the previous hour and to put vinegar on it. Which I had none of. So it still itches.

Thanks Bernie.

2007-11-19T16:14:00.000-10:00

Thanks Bernie.

I have heard they pack a lot of punch, but still a...

2007-11-16T16:10:00.000-10:00

I have heard they pack a lot of punch, but still a great shot.

Yes, Kathy, it's those tiny little hairs that you ...

2007-11-11T12:22:00.000-10:00

Yes, Kathy, it's those tiny little hairs that you don't want to touch.

Bobbie & Jerry

Those little hairs really have a lot of detail! G...

2007-11-10T04:41:00.000-10:00

Those little hairs really have a lot of detail! Great info and pics!