Bristle worn sting

[themcnertney]

Unfortunately I had to take down my 220 yesterday. Bristle worm got me. Should I be worried? Pretty swollen still and can’t move my 3 finger too well. It hurts but isn’t too bad of pain.

 

[ZAB]

Google Bristal worm sting. When I was stung, I soaked. fingers in distilled vinegar I believe helped dissolve bristles.

 

[Dom]

To be honest, I can't even tell which finger.

Maybe go to an urge-center to have it examined?

I've never heard of a bristle worm sting. Did you handle any live rock (I imagine you did)?

I have developed swelling and infection in my fingertips a few times when getting a good grip on big pieces of live rock. The weight of the pieces caused micro cuts in my skin and I guess the nitrifying bacteria colony took up residence in the cuts.

Antibiotics did the trick.

 

[themcnertney]

It the first three finger all but my pinky and thumb. I did handle about 200 lbs of live rock. I used duct tape to pull the bristles from my hand. Here my other hand for comparison

 

[ScottJ]

Here is some info;
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/wilderness_bristleworm_sting/article_em.htm

 

[The_Paradox]

Cut it off. You are most certainly dying. Assuming no contraindications, take some Benadryl and make sure to remove any bristles and debride if necessary.

 

[themcnertney]

Great info. Thanks. Might be going to urgent care. Today.

 

[The_Paradox]

Great info. Thanks. Might be going to urgent care. Today.

Good call. Don’t risk a minor annoyance when you can get covid, strep, and mrsa all at the same time for an affordable price. Make sure to get the prescription Benadryl. It cost $125 so it’s much better.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unfortunately I had to take down my 220 yesterday. Bristle worm got me. Should I be worried? Pretty swollen still and can’t move my 3 finger too well. It hurts but isn’t too bad of pain.

As a trauma nurse, these are painful but non-venomous and can be removed by placing hand in 3% peroxide and removed with tweezers under a magnifying glass so you can see clearly, each bristle. You may get a red dot on each one which is normal and will go away.
This is the reason I do NOT welcome Bristleworms in my tanks

 

[themcnertney]

I had this last time I moved my 220 downstairs but not nearly this bad.

Think it’s live rock infection too. Thousands of vermetid snails. Those tubes are razor sharp

 

[The_Paradox]

I had this last time I moved my 220 downstairs but not nearly this bad.

Think it’s live rock infection too. Thousands of vermetid snails. Those tubes are razor sharp

I would love to give you more grief but what you need to watch for is:

Construction of airway
Fever
Any signs of blood poisoning
Anything local beyond basic swelling, slight redness, minor heat.

Obviously if it goes necrotic you should go to ED. Otherwise you’re just gonna waste half a day while some GP looks up bristleworms on wiki and flips through Tabers.

 

[themcnertney]

I would love to give you more grief but what you need to watch for is:

Construction of airway
Fever
Any signs of blood poisoning
Anything local beyond basic swelling, slight redness, minor heat.

Obviously if it goes necrotic you should go to ED. Otherwise you’re just gonna waste half a day while some GP looks up bristleworms on wiki and flips through Tabers.

Grief is welcome. Just want to make sure I don’t lose a finger. Sort of important.

I had the chills last night so possibility of a very mild fever. All is good this morning.

 

[Lebowski_]

Good call. Don’t risk a minor annoyance when you can get covid, strep, and mrsa all at the same time for an affordable price. Make sure to get the prescription Benadryl. It cost $125 so it’s much better.

As a trauma nurse, these are painful but non-venomous and can be removed by placing hand in 3% peroxide and removed with tweezers under a magnifying glass so you can see clearly, each bristle. You may get a red dot on each one which is normal and will go away.
This is the reason I do NOT welcome Bristleworms in my tanks

The difference between a useles post and a useful one is so plain when they come one after the other.

Thanks as always @vetteguy53081 good knowledge to have. Do you place your hand into undiluted peroxide?

 

[The_Paradox]

The difference between a useles post and a useful one is so plain when they come one after the other.

Thanks as always @vetteguy53081 good knowledge to have. Do you place your hand into undiluted peroxide?

Your post illustrates this perfectly.

 

[themcnertney]

As a trauma nurse, these are painful but non-venomous and can be removed by placing hand in 3% peroxide and removed with tweezers under a magnifying glass so you can see clearly, each bristle. You may get a red dot on each one which is normal and will go away.
This is the reason I do NOT welcome Bristleworms in my tanks

The difference between a useles post and a useful one is so plain when they come one after the other.

Thanks as always @vetteguy53081 good knowledge to have. Do you place your hand into undiluted peroxide?

Agree this was sound advice.

I haven’t done anything. Last night it didn’t seem too bad. This morning it seems to have gotten a bit worse

 

[Lebowski_]

Agree this was sound advice.

I haven’t done anything. Last night it didn’t seem too bad. This morning it seems to have gotten a bit worse

Bit worse in terms of swelling? Redness? Pain?

I am not a medical professional but increased symptoms + chills does make me wonder about infection. I had an infection a long time ago I got while unpacking live rock. No idea if it was actually from the saltwater or rock, it was just a classic small cut that got more inflamed and sensitive over a span of about 48 hours and my boss thankfully sent me to a walk in.

 

[Doctorgori]

Bristle worm needles don’t seem to bother me for whatever reason but…
I’ve also been bitten by some kind of worm with actual mouth pincers (NO CLUE what kind bit have a pic somewhere) ..I got sick (local reaction) and had to go to the emergency room…
I’m not medically qualified either, but don’t mess around…ain’t worth it…
..

 

[themcnertney]

My wife says go to urgent care. I go to urgent care. Stay tuned.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The difference between a useles post and a useful one is so plain when they come one after the other.

Thanks as always @vetteguy53081 good knowledge to have. Do you place your hand into undiluted peroxide?

Yes
Chills generally not associated but everyone reacts differently. Swelling, inflammation and rashes are typical. This is being made out to be as dangerous as palytoxins which is often over extended as to risk

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree this was sound advice.

I haven’t done anything. Last night it didn’t seem too bad. This morning it seems to have gotten a bit worse

you will have seen swelling and redness which will subside over next 24 hours. You can use cortizone for control of this