Recurrent dermatitis and dermal hypersensitivity following a jellyfish sting: a case report and review of literature

Pediatr Dermatol. 2014 Mar-Apr;31(2):217-9. doi: 10.1111/pde.12289. Epub 2014 Feb 4.

Abstract

Jellyfish envenomation often causes an immediate painful vesiculopapular eruption. Less commonly it can cause a type IV allergic hypersensitivity that manifests with delayed or recurrent cutaneous lesions at the primary site or distant from the primary site. These secondary reactivations may be related to high antijellyfish immunoglobulin levels, intracutaneously sequestered antigen, or cross-reacting venom. Immunomodulators such as pimecrolimus and tacrolimus and topical and intralesional corticosteroid therapy decrease this recurrent dermatitis. We report a case of a 9-year-old girl with a recurrent jellyfish dermatitis lasting more than 1 year after the initial envenomation. The dermatitis finally resolved after treatment with tacrolimus and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bites and Stings / drug therapy
  • Bites and Stings / immunology*
  • Child
  • Cnidarian Venoms / poisoning*
  • Dermatitis / drug therapy
  • Dermatitis / etiology
  • Dermatitis / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / drug therapy
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / etiology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Leg Dermatoses / drug therapy
  • Leg Dermatoses / etiology
  • Leg Dermatoses / immunology*
  • Recurrence
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use
  • Triamcinolone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cnidarian Venoms
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Triamcinolone
  • Tacrolimus