Human envenomations caused by Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis) in urban beaches of São Luis City, Maranhão State, Northeast Coast of Brazil.
The clinical and epidemiological aspects associated with Portuguese man-of-war envenomation were investigated and characterized.
Data from recorded envenomation events between 2005 and 2013 were provided by the GBMar (Group of Firemen Maritime of Maranhão State) and SEMUSC (Municipal Secretary of Security with Citizenship).
Most victims were children, and clinical manifestations included intense pain, edema, erythema, and rare systemic manifestations.
The envenomation events were predictable and based on patterns involving multiple factors (environmental and/or human behavior); however, the initially applied measures did not match the current recommendations of the Health Ministry of Brazil.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, Maranhão, Brasil.
Denise Maria Ramalho Ferreira
DM
Bastos
Departamento de Dermatologia. Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil.
Vidal
V
Haddad
Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, Maranhão, Brasil.
Jorge Luiz Silva
JL
Nunes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037402:Hydrozoa; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
D003064:Cnidarian Venoms