Stingrays are flat, disk-shaped creatures with fins that resemble wings. You may also receive a In some cases, you might require surgery after a stingray sting to remove dead tissue or to repair a severe wound.For most people, stingray stings heal within a few weeks. Local effects of stingray venom include: severe pain, edema, cyanosis, erythema, petechiae, local necrosis, ulceration and delayed wound healing.
Allow the salt water to clean the wound while applying pressure over it to both slow the bleeding and encourage the venom to come out.Try to clear out any additional debris you might see in the cut or puncture while you’re still in the water.Pay close attention to how you feel in the sting’s aftermath. Stingray venom causes intense and immediate pain to the affected area. Pain management, In most cases, a stingray injury should be handled in a hospital's emergency department. ©2018 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. For most people, stingray stings heal within a few weeks. The site may be infected, and your doctor may prescribe antibiotics (oral or intravenous) to treat it.Because stingrays camouflage themselves under sand to hunt for prey, they can be hard to spot and easy to step on if you don’t know what to look for.Once it’s been threatened, a stingray will whip its tail in defense — which can reach up and over its head — leaving a laceration or puncture wound in your skin.When a stingray whips its tail at you, one or more of its spines may pierce your skin. Stingray wounds have also been found to bleed for a lo… Injury from a stingray can damage a person's muscles or tendons in addition to the cut or The toxins contained in the sheath can cause the following symptoms:Because stingray injuries usually hurt so much, medical attention is definitely needed. The size of the spine depends on the size and type of the stingray. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme pain at the wound, muscle cramps, and a laceration at the puncture site. The ray’s tail can reach all the way to the front of its head for protection.People who step on a stingray most frequently are injured on their The stinger, or spine near the base of the tail, is hard and sharp with backward pointing barbs (retroserrations) that can cause a jagged cut. Twenty-two species of stingrays are found in US coastal waters, 14 in the Atlantic and 8 in the Pacific. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, muscle cramps, tremors, paralysis, fainting, seizures, elevated heart rate, and decreased blood pressure may develop. Photo courtesy of Cecil BerryWhat treatment did you receive for your stingray injury?What symptoms did you experience with your stingray injury? Injuries from these sharklike creatures are usually defensive actions.Once disturbed, their venomous stinger (spine) near the base of their tails lashes out and can cause punctures or lacerations (cuts). Expect the area to swell.Hot water kills stingray venom and may relieve the pain associated with the sting. The most common venomous effect is severe pain, but the venom can also cause headaches, diaphoresis, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, syncope, muscle cramps, fasciculations, dyspnea, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, and seizures. The hot water may also draw out venom, which resembles jelly.Once you’ve relieved the pain, apply antibiotic ointment or cream to the wound and cover it with gauze.If you’re stung by a stingray, you may experience these symptoms:The following symptoms could be signs of a systemic reaction or respiratory distress and require immediate emergency medical care:It’s possible for the heart to stop or for the body to go into shock after a stingray sting.
It is clear why these can cause either a puncture wound or a slashing laceration. If you have to undergo surgery after the sting, your recovery will take more time.© 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Rays often cover themselves with sand for camouflage while resting or hiding from predators, so they can be hard to see.When stepped upon or harassed, they swing or arch their tail in the direction of the intruder as a defensive maneuver to protect themselves. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. When wading in shallow waters where stingrays may be, wear foot protection and shuffle your feet to scare away any resting rays.With early medical care, serious symptoms and pain can be relieved.
Some people have died as a result of stings in their chests and abdomens.If you have a puncture wound and aren’t up to date on your tetanus booster, it’s time to get it renewed.If you’ve had the wound for a while but are slow to recover, you experience redness or additional swelling at the site, or the site begins to ooze pus, get treatment right away.