Seabather's eruption: a clinical and epidemiological study of 38 cases in Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Abstract

sUMMARYSeabather´s eruption (SBE) is an intensely itchy, papule-erythematous dermatitis that occurs predominantly in regions of the body covered by bathing costumes, after exposure to marine water. The planulae larvae of Linuche unguiculata scyphomedusae (thimble jellyfish) are the etiologic agent of the dermatitis, which is frequent in waters of Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida. The authors report 38 cases of SBE in the State of Santa Catarina (Southern region of Brazil), with emphasis on their clinical and epidemiological aspects, such as profile of victim, topography of the papules and conditions predisposing to the accident.

Seabather's eruption: report of fourteen cases

“…Seabather's eruption (SBE) is a dermatitis clinically characterized by intensely pruritic erythematous papules located mainly in areas of the body covered by a bathing suit during, or shortly after, exposure to seawater (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009). …”

“…The prognosis is good, and the dermatitis may evolve into spontaneous resolution in one or two weeks (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009). …”

“…SBE is caused by entrapment of planula larvae of the jellyfish Linuche unguiculata under bathers' clothes, which in contact with the victim's skin, triggers the nematocysts (or cnidocytes) using its stinging cells for defense, causing dermatitis (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009). The planula larvae are about 0.5 mm in size, and become trapped by the fibers of the bathing suit, especially when the swimmer leaves the sea and the bathing suit drains the water, acting like a filter (Rossetto et al 2007(Rossetto et al , 2009).…”

“…The planula larvae are about 0.5 mm in size, and become trapped by the fibers of the bathing suit, especially when the swimmer leaves the sea and the bathing suit drains the water, acting like a filter (Rossetto et al 2007(Rossetto et al , 2009). The process can also be triggered by contact with freshwater, or pressure (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009. Puertas et al (2001) state that the disease may be caused in three stages of the life cycle of…”

“…unguiculata (Efira, planula larvae, and adult jellyfish), and that it differs clinically according to the morphology of the skin lesion and time of year of the incident. L. unguiculata is a small Scyphozoa, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, and is common in marine waters of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Western North Atlantic (Florida, Cuba and Bahamas), where there are numerous reports of SBE, which can reach epidemic proportions (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009, Haddad Jr et al 2002.…”