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Braun-Falco´s Dermatology pp 1–9Cite as

Aquatic Dermatology: Venomous Animals

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Abstract

Venomous marine animals apply their venom with a tool (e.g., tooth, stinger); typically, this is for defense, for prey acquisition, and/or for assisting digestion of the prey. When bathing, snorkeling or diving in the sea, injuries due to contact with jellyfish or sea urchins occur frequently, whereas inland waters often contain skin-irritating microorganisms. Spine- or stinger-bearing marine animals may cause serious injuries by mechanical means. Severe envenoming may occur when venom is introduced by these tools or by stinging cells into the target. The majority of aquatic injuries worldwide are restricted to skin irritation. Systemic complications are rare, but may be life-threatening. In this chapter, the most important aquatic skin reactions are described, as well as their diagnosis and treatments.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany

    Nanna Schürer

  2. Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany

    Dietrich Mebs

  3. Practice for Dermatology and Venerology, Hamburg, Germany

    Andreas Montag

Authors
  1. Nanna Schürer
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  2. Dietrich Mebs
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  3. Andreas Montag
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nanna Schürer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Gerd Plewig

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars French

  3. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

  4. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

  5. Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Hertl

Section Editor information

  1. Head of the Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

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Schürer, N., Mebs, D., Montag, A. (2020). Aquatic Dermatology: Venomous Animals. In: Plewig, G., French, L., Ruzicka, T., Kaufmann, R., Hertl, M. (eds) Braun-Falco´s Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58713-3_47-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58713-3_47-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-58713-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-58713-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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