allergic reaction from LPS candy cane?

[wah-zoh]

i was wondering if it is possible or if anyone elsle has had any type of allergic reaction from handling candy cane coral. i picked up a frag of candy cane coral yesterday. i placed it into the tank and everythhing was just fine. about 1-2 hours later i started getting hives under my arms , and on my waist line. i took a benadryl went to bed. woke up and now they are everywhere. i know zoanthids can cause allergys, but i cant find anything about a candy cane coral doing this. thoughts?

 

[Bluephish13]

I had green palys make the palm of my hand burn a lil and go numb for a few hours. Nothing ever from candies, but i am sure it's possible.

Mine started happening within minutes of holding the coral.

I find out later they are very toxic.

 

[wah-zoh]

this time of the year i guess it could be a bug bite that is doing this. i never had any bugs do this to me before. only thing that stands out different was handling the coral. this was the only coral i was handling yesterday.

 

[tmz]

Caulastrea aren't particularly aggressive but some folks develop hyper sensitivity to any nematocysts(stinging cells) and they do have some as do most corals. Palythoa toxins are notoriusly dangerous. Wearing gloves is a good precuation when handling corals. It protects you and the animals from anything noxious that may be on your skin. There are lots of unfamiliar proteins floating about in reeef aquarium water.

 

[wah-zoh]

well just got back from the DRs. i am in worst shape now, as they ran an IV in to an artery and pumped medications the wrong way.it felt like boiling water in my arm for about 30 mins. the hives are still going strong, and my arm is killing me. have another apt in a few hours to to make sure all is well, and to check on the arm that the other DR screwed up.

lesson learned, i will wear gloves from now on.

 

[ShawnKPD]

Man, I sure hope all goes well with the appointment. This is suppose to be relaxing not punishment.

 

[Dave VG]

man, i sure hope all goes well with the appointment. This is suppose to be relaxing not punishment.

x2

 

[Sk8r]

Good luck to you. IANAD, but---the chemistry of many coral stings is similar enough that this forecasts some difficulties working with corals in general as seriously as you've been affected, if it was the candycane that did it, and not, as you say, some external cause. Please wear gloves, and if the standard blue/red over-elbows are too awkward [they are], investigate some latex vet gloves that offer a bit more feeling in the fingertips. Re your question, a person can be allergic to almost anything, and if you're having this bad a reaction and it is corals, please be careful about any second exposure.

 

[tmz]

Hope it heals quickly. Good luck

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

the growth habit of Caulastrea allows for many types of critters to hide amongst it's skeleton. It's possible (and IMO more likely) you were zapped by something other than the coral. Some of the possibilities:

*bristleworm
*foraminiferin
*hydroid

 

[wah-zoh]

the growth habit of Caulastrea allows for many types of critters to hide amongst it's skeleton. It's possible (and IMO more likely) you were zapped by something other than the coral. Some of the possibilities:

*bristleworm
*foraminiferin
*hydroid

Gary i never thought of this. great point!!
what ever it was it was minor compared to what happened at the MAC center today. iv went into the artery vein and blew that out so all the medicines went between the tissue and muscle "OUCH" !!!!

 

[wah-zoh]

btw steroids and xyzal is what they gave me for the reaction.
i still dont know if it was even the tank that caused this probably will never know, but i will always be more carefull from now on.

 

[Ashman1]

Good reminder to be careful. I haven't had my hands in aquarium stuff for three years. I never used gloves before, but this reminds me of other times people had reactions. Maybe I should get a pack of the latex gloves to keep around now that I'm getting back in to it.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Good luck to you. IANAD, but---the chemistry of many coral stings is similar enough that this forecasts some difficulties working with corals in general as seriously as you've been affected, if it was the candycane that did it, and not, as you say, some external cause. Please wear gloves, and if the standard blue/red over-elbows are too awkward [they are], investigate some latex vet gloves that offer a bit more feeling in the fingertips. Re your question, a person can be allergic to almost anything, and if you're having this bad a reaction and it is corals, please be careful about any second exposure.

If you heed any advice, HEED THIS!!! A second exposure to an allergen with as significant a reaction as you experienced, is VERY DANGEROUS. Anaphylaxis is a risk. Do not play around with corals without gloves again. Investigate having an Epi-pen (epinephrine) on hand. The immunoglobulin mediated allergic response is MUCH MORE SERIOUS on second exposure. Not saying this to scare you, just want you to be prepared. Thousands upon thousands of people carry epi-pens because of bee venom allergies for example.

Just exercise caution and continue to enjoy our great hobby. PM me if you have any questions.

Mark

 

[wah-zoh]

If you heed any advice, HEED THIS!!! A second exposure to an allergen with as significant a reaction as you experienced, is VERY DANGEROUS. Anaphylaxis is a risk. Do not play around with corals without gloves again. Investigate having an Epi-pen (epinephrine) on hand. The immunoglobulin mediated allergic response is MUCH MORE SERIOUS on second exposure. Not saying this to scare you, just want you to be prepared. Thousands upon thousands of people carry epi-pens because of bee venom allergies for example.

Just exercise caution and continue to enjoy our great hobby. PM me if you have any questions.

Mark

thanks for the information i appreciate it. i am getting gloves before i get back into the tank again. it was a little scary because its hard to explain to the DR what i think it was from. they act like im crazy when i tell them i think its from my aquarium.

 

[dadoftwins]

my brother had something like that and come to find out it was a soap rash from laundry soap ..he was freaking out because the hives were on his stomach,underarms,and shoulders . Im no Dr. but just trying to help..hope all goes well ...im keeping a eye on my candycane corals for now on ..

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I had a similar reaction years ago, it was due to the dye and/or fabric in a new shirt I'd just worn for the first time. Needless to say, I haven't worn that shirt since. :lol:

Allergies aside, with respect to gloves around fish tanks, one google images search for Mycobacterium marinum should be enough to make anyone buy them by the crate!

 

[superkat]

update please? how are you doing? i've had arteries blow out from IV's before..not fun.

 

[wah-zoh]

no new clothes, no new detergent. i only think it was tank related due to the fact it started shortly after i was putting the new coral in. i cant rule out a bug bite either as i went outside just after i did this as well.
but after hearing about this sencond exposure thing from several different sources i will be extra cautious from here on out. :thumbsup:

 

[wah-zoh]

update please? how are you doing? i've had arteries blow out from IV's before..not fun.

yeah this was the worst part of the whole ordeal. by far the most pain i have ever felt was benadryl going into the tissue of my arm. but its doing better today still have the bruising under the skin and its sore. the allergic reaction has gone down now just swollen eyes, lips, and fingers. hives come and go. I was told it will be about 5 days till its gone.