Dermatitis caused by sponges

  • Bonamonte D.
  • Filoni A.
  • Verni P.
  • Angelini G.
Publication date
January 2016
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Abstract

It has long been known that sponges, the most primitive pluricellular organisms, are not entirely innocuous. Some species can, in fact, cause serious skin reactions, induced by the spicules on the horny skeleton or by the toxins present on their surface or secreted into the water. Clinical manifestations due to stings of sponges may be immediate or delayed. A few minutes after the contact, prickling, stinging or burning occur, followed by pain, erythema, swelling and stiffness. The dermatitis progresses to papulo-vesicular or bullous eruptions with a serous or purulent exudate. The onset of the affliction may occur even many days after the contact. Some species of sponges can also provoke much more violent reactions, and unless they are ade...

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