What may increase your risk for problems after a marine sting or scrape?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your doctor.
Conditions
- Age older than 60
- A marine sting or scrape in the past
- Infant, young child, or very small adult
- Past serious reactions, such as:
- Allergic reaction
- Anaphylaxis
- Skin sensitivities
- Serum sickness
- Toxic reaction
- Large skin reaction
- Surgery to remove the spleen
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Smoking or other tobacco use
Medicines
- Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
Diseases
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Heart disease
- HIV
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Seizure disorder
- Sickle cell disease
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: September 24, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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