Aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos y de tratamiento de cinco casos de envenenamiento por erizos de mar en Adícora, península de Paraguaná, estado Falcón, Venezuela

a descriptive and prospective survey was conducted to investigate epidemiological, clinical and treatment profiles on injuries caused by sea urchins (equinodermata). between december 2006 and december 2007, patients with sea urchin injuries were attended in ambulatory emergency facilities at adicora, falcón state, paraguaná peninsula, a semiarid north-western region from venezuela. subjects were clinically examined and interrogated. treatment consisted of application of topical antiseptic povidona-iodine solution; local anesthetic, anti-inflammatory analgesic administered intravenously, antibiotic therapy per os and tetanus inmunization. envenomations by the green sea urchin lytechinus variegatus (lamarck, 1816) (n=1, 20%) and the black sea urchin echinometra lucunter (linneaus, 1758) (n=4, 80%) were recorded. visitors were involved in all cases: 4 (80%) males and 1 (20%) female, being 3 (60%) scholar age children and 2 (40%) young adults. the accidents occurred during february (3/5; 60%), august (1/5; 20%) and june (1/5; 20%), in the afternoon (80%) when individuals were bathing or swimming at the beach. the time between ambulatory medical assistance and the accident varied from 10 to 15 minutes, with a mean time of 12 ± 2.74. the puncture injuries were located on the lower limbs in all patients, with 1 - 8 spines. clinical manifestations observed were: intense pain, edema and erythema in all cases, with no systemic compliance. all patients had a satisfactory post -treatment evolution, between 20 to 45 minutes. injuries by sea urchins in adicora, paraguaná peninsula, falcón state, venezuela, appeared with a low frequency and local manifestations, requiring symptomatic treatment. lesions with immediate medical treatment and the complete removal of spines evolved with no complications.