Seabather's eruption: report of five cases in southeast region of Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARYThe authors report five cases of seabather´s eruption, a typical dermatitis associated predominantly to the jellyfish Linuche unguiculata (Cnidaria), that causes erythematous and pruriginous papules on areas of the skin of bathers covered by swimsuits. The rash is characteristic and the eruption is commom in the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico and Gulf States of USA. The cases are the first reported in Brazil and larvae of the jellyfish are present in the waters where the accidents happened.

Prurido do traje de banho: relato de seis casos no Sul do Brasil

“…A pequena água-viva Linuche unguiculata tem presença marcante nas águas dos mares do Caribe (Belize, México e Cuba), no Golfo do México e regiões tropicais do Atlântico Norte Ocidental (Flórida, Cuba e Bahamas), onde foram feitos vários registros do prurido do traje de banho, atingindo proporções epidêmicas, ou surtos da água-viva 2 5 6 . No Brasil, Haddad Jr e cols publicaram em 2001 os primeiros cinco casos registrados no Brasil, ocorridos na região Sudeste, em Ubatuba, no Estado de São Paulo 3 . Silveira e Morandini, em 1998, verificaram que a fase de pólipo de Linuche unguiculata é muito freqüente na região próxima de Ubatuba, do Canal de São Sebastião, e demonstraram que as larvas plânulas são produzidas com grande freqüência por um mecanismo de reprodução assexuada a partir do próprio pólipo (Figura 1), independente da ocorrência da fase da água-viva ou medusa 6 7 .…”

Seabather's eruption: report of fourteen cases

“…The ages ranged from one to thirty-two years, with an average of nine of age. Children were more commonly affected, suggesting longer exposure to water during bathing, and possibly, more sensitive skin (Haddad Jr et al 2001, Rossetto et al 2009). …”

“…unguiculata was identified by Silveira and Morandini (1998a, b) (Haddad Jr et al 2001). In that same year, Rossetto et al (2007) observed the first cases of the disease on the north coast of Santa Catarina.…”

Environmental dermatology: skin manifestations of injuries caused by invertebrate aquatic animals

“…This dermatitis was first described in Brazilian bathers in Ubatuba (São Paulo State). 19 Recently, new cases have been reported on the coast, especially in the South of the country, suggesting that the disease is far more common than previously thought. 20,21 …”