We are used to jellyfish stings, but what to do in the event of a sea anemone sting? The terrible images of a child affected have been released, and they are impressive.
Vacations don’t always go as planned. It’s the least we can say for this Belgian family who came to escape to the Pyrénées-Orientales. Summer can also be synonymous with mental stress and danger, especially concerning the little-known phenomenon of hyperhydration or carousel accidents. For this tribe, the threat came from the ocean. Swimming on a beach in Barcarès a few days ago, the 7 year old son suddenly came out of the water crying out in pain. He was screaming “Daddy, I’m going to die”.
The father, an osteopath, recounts this scene on a daily basis Het Laatste Nieuws. He remembers very well what he felt: “When your child screams in pain like this […] fear touches your heart“. He adds : “I never heard a child scream so loud”. But what had happened to him?
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Sea anemone: a not insignificant sting
It was during their last day of vacation that a Belgian family had a terrible time. The 7-year-old son comes out of the sea screaming. The father then thinks of a fall while diving but lying on his back, his body gradually shows marks on the skin. A rescuer is called to the rescue but he does not know what can cause such pain. Same thing at the pharmacy. Unfortunately, the child’s ear doubled in size and his wounds turned purple.
At the Perpignan hospital, the pediatrician takes photos, which he sends to a toxicologist. For the latter, there is no doubt: the boy was stung by the tentacles of a sea anemone. In Belgium, they will then consult the burns center of Neder-Over-Heembeek. A week later, the child is no longer vomiting but his scars are not gone.
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Jan Tytgat, toxicologist, explains thatsuch a sting causes a tingling sensation, “result of contact with a cell that sticks needles into your skin like a harpoon and secretes toxins that may explain the symptoms”. These toxins then break down. If this happens to you, immerse the affected area of the body in warm water or apply something acidic like lemon. Be careful if you are stung in the heart, it can be dangerous.
Editor for Aufeminin, Charlotte is passionate about French and international cinema, and a reader of good adventures. Curious about everything, she speaks as much about personalities as culture or…