Abstract
Seabather's eruption is a papulo-pruritic dermatitis caused by the nematocysts of the larvae of the jellyfish Linuche unguiculata retained in the clothing fibers. Previously reported in Brazil, this work describes fourteen cases that occurred in the State of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. The new cases observed over a short period of time (the first half of January, 2012), at the height of the summer season, should alert health teams to possible epidemics on the coast of the state of Santa Catarina.
Highlights
Seabather's eruption (SBE) is a dermatitis clinically characterized by intensely pruritic erythematous papules located mainly in areas of the body covered by a bathing suit during, or shortly after, exposure to seawater (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009)
This paper presents fourteen cases of the SBE in southern Brazil, and alerts health teams to possible epidemics on the Santa Catarina coast
From an epidemiological and clinical perspective, the cases reported are typical: the majority of cases began while bathing in the sea; the victims were mostly younger than 15 years, for whom the exposure period in the water is generally longer than in adults; the dermatitis was manifested by extremely pruritic erythematous papules in the area covered by the bathing suits
Summary
Seabather's eruption (SBE) is a dermatitis clinically characterized by intensely pruritic erythematous papules located mainly in areas of the body covered by a bathing suit during, or shortly after, exposure to seawater (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009). SBE is caused by entrapment of planula larvae of the jellyfish Linuche unguiculata under bathers’ clothes, which in contact with the victim’s skin, triggers the nematocysts (or cnidocytes) using its stinging cells for defense, causing dermatitis (Haddad Jr 2008, Rossetto et al 2009). The first published Brazilian cases of seabather’s eruption were reported in 2001 by Haddad Jr and collaborators, occurring in the municipality of Ubatuba, in the State of São Paulo, close to the São Sebastião Channel (Haddad Jr et al 2001). Rossetto et al (2007) observed the first cases of the disease on the north coast of Santa Catarina. This paper presents fourteen cases of the SBE in southern Brazil, and alerts health teams to possible epidemics on the Santa Catarina coast
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