TURTLE BITES IN ADRIATIC SEA – REPORT OF FOUR CASES

U literaturi nismo našli radove koji opisuju ugriz kupača od morske kornjače. Jedina dokazana škodljivost za čovjeka je toksički učinak, tj. otrovanje nakon konzumacije kornjačinog mesa. U ovom radu prikazujemo četiri slučaja ugriza od kornjače: tri kupačice u dobi od 61 do 67 godina ugrižene za glutealnu regiju i jedan kupač u dobi od 51 godine ugrižen u desnu natkoljenicu. Incidenti su se dogodili pri plivanju u blizini obale. Bolesnici su osim pretrpljenog straha zadobili i ugrizne rane veće površine kože i potkožja, kao jake nagnječine. Jaki lokalni bolovi i promjena boje kože bile su jedine prateće tegobe. Sve su tri bolesnice uzimale analgetike kao simptomsku terapiju. Razdoblje oporavka proteklo je bez komplikacija. Zaključujemo da su ugrizi morskih kornjača u Boki kotorskoj realan problem za kupače, a terapija ugriza je isključivo simptomska.There is no evidence for sea turtle bites among swimmers found in the literature. The only issue is toxicity after consuming sea turtle meat. In this paper, we present four cases of sea turtle bites in swimmers. Three female swimmers aged 61-67 were bitten in gluteal region and a 51-year-old swimmer in the right thigh while swimming near the coast. As for the consequences, not only the patients suffered fear, but they also sustained large bites on the skin and subcutaneous tissue in the form of contusion. Except for strong focal pain and change of skin color, there were no other symptoms. All patients took symptomatic therapy by painkillers. Recovery period passed well, without complications. The conclusion is that sea turtle bites happening in the Boka bay could be a potential threat for swimmers. Therapy of bites is exclusively symptomatic