Wilderness: Fire Coral Cuts (cont.)

Medical Author:

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Fire Coral Cuts and Stings Symptoms

Within 5-30 minutes following skin contact with fire coral, an immediate burning sensation or a stinging pain develops.
A red rash with raised wheals or vesicles appears, and itching develops.
Lymph gland swelling may occur over time.
Rarely, nausea and vomiting have been reported.
Fire coral cuts are treated like all other coral cuts.