Marine animal injuries to children in the South of Jordan

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to report the common marine animal injuries sustained by Jordanian children. A prospective study of 152 patients, who sustained different marine animal injuries in the Gulf of Aqaba and treated at Princess Haya Hospital during the period from January 2004 to January 2006. One hundred and fifty two children who sustained marine animal injuries were managed with marked male predominance [9.91]. Injuries were most frequent during July [32.9%] and during the night [75%]. Sea Urchin was incriminated in 136[89.5%], while Lionfish and Stonefish were the cause of 14[9.2%] and 2[1.3%] respectively. All injuries were involving the limbs, with feet injured in 130 [85.5%] and h and s in 22[14.5%]. Only 20[13.1%] patients required admissions to the hospital. Although no deaths were reported, variable severe systemic and local manifestations were caused by Stonefish, whereas Sea Urchin and Lionfish presented mainly with local reactions. All patients injured by Stonefish were managed in the intensive care unit and Stonefish antivenom was given. Sea Urchin was the commonest cause of injuries while Stonefish was the cause of most serious injuries