Need help with possible coral sting...

[FragIt Dan]

My understanding of nematocytes is that we don't get stung by most because they are not able to penetrate our skin. They still pack a serious punch (as attested by the coral wars you observe in your tank), but typically pose little threat to us. If, however, you have a cut, they can inject the venom directly into the bloodstream.
Not that it really matters, but I would propose a different theory than zoas theory for a couple of reasons... I suspect a zoa would not cut you, but more so because the symptoms of palytoxin are more typically less localized (I have two good friends give me first hand accounts and have done a fair bit of reading on it since). I would bet the coral you pulled out of the cut was stoney?
As for the Vinegar, the medical profession and primary literature seem to be in agreement that it is recommended as a treatment for most jellyfish (and I would assume coral) stings. The vinegar deactivates the nematocytes, allowing the removal of the jellyfish tentacles (or coral chunk) without further triggering. Urine, however, not so, although you are welcome to try...


Dan

[Mandosh]

Originally Posted by FragIt Dan

As for the Vinegar, the medical profession and primary literature seem to be in agreement that it is recommended as a treatment for most jellyfish (and I would assume coral) stings. The vinegar deactivates the nematocytes, allowing the removal of the jellyfish tentacles (or coral chunk) without further triggering. Urine, however, not so, although you are welcome to try...

Agreed. I think the urine theory comes from the mistaken fact that trace amounts of ammonia will have the same effect that vinegar does (vinegar has been shown to inhibit unfired nematoctyes from triggering in SOME species). Unfortunately, freshwater, which urine is mostly, has also been shown to cause nematocytes to fire. That being said, nematocytes are not all created equal and I have heard anecdotal evidence (no literature that I have seen) that vinegar has the opposite effect on stings from some non-jellyfish species such as the Man-o-war (read excruciating pain if applied). So, no idea how coral would react.

We used to use vinegar and lidocaine when I was diving in the tropics. I have also heard that meat tenderizer breaks town the proteins in the toxin...'cause everyone carries that in their beach bag.