Phylum porifera
Contents
Phylum Porifera (sponges)
Life and Habitat
- Approximately 5000 species of sponge
- Generally stationary and attach to see floor or coral beds
Relevant species
- Most common Tedania ignis (Hawaiian or West Indian fire sponge)
- Found in Florida and Hawaii
- Fibula nolitangere (poison bun sponge)
- Microciona prolifera (red moss sponge)
Clinical Aspects
- Symptoms caused by contact with sponge
- Pruritic dermatitis and rarely erythema multiforme or anaphylactoid reaction
- Reaction appears between 10 minutes and a few hours of contact
- Starts with pruritis and burning
- May progress to local edema, proximal joint swelling, or vesiculation
- When large areas of skin are involved, patients can have fever, malaise, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps
- Mild reactions resolve in 3-7 days
Treatment
- Gently dry skin
- Attempt to remove small spicules imbedded in skin
- May use adhesive tape
- Use 5% acetic acid (vinegar) soaks to affected area 10-30 minutes 3-4 times daily
- If unavailable may use 40-70% isopropyl alcohol
- Topical steroids may relieve secondary inflammation
- Tetanus prophylaxis
- Close follow up for wound checks to monitor for infection
Reference
- Auerbach PS, DiTullio AE. Envenomation by Aquatic Invertebrates. In Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS. Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017: 1679 – 1682.