ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The clinical and epidemiological aspects associated with Portuguese man-of-war envenomation were investigated and characterized.
METHODS:
Data from recorded envenomation events between 2005 and 2013 were provided by the GBMar (Group of Firemen Maritime of Maranhão State) and SEMUSC (Municipal Secretary of Security with Citizenship).
RESULTS:
Most victims were children, and clinical manifestations included intense pain, edema, erythema, and rare systemic manifestations.
CONCLUSIONS:
The envenomation events were predictable and based on patterns involving multiple factors (environmental and/or human behavior); however, the initially applied measures did not match the current recommendations of the Health Ministry of Brazil.
Keywords:
Dangerous marine animals; Cnidarians; Bites and stings