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TURTLE BITES IN ADRIATIC SEA – REPORT OF FOUR CASES

MILOVAN RADOSAVLJEVIĆ orcid.org/0000-0002-0972-7033 ; Kotor General Hospital, Department of Surgery, Kotor, Montenegro
PETAR MILIĆ ; Kotor General Hospital, Department of Surgery, Kotor, Montenegro
IVANA RADOSAVLJEVIĆ ; Kotor General Hospital, Department of Surgery, Kotor, Montenegro

Abstract

There is no evidence for sea turtle bites among swimmers found in the literature. The only issue is toxicity after consuming sea turtle meat. In this paper, we present four cases of sea turtle bites in swimmers. Three female swimmers aged 61-67 were bitten in gluteal region and a 51-year-old swimmer in the right thigh while swimming near the coast. As for the consequences, not only the patients suffered fear, but they also sustained large bites on the skin and subcutaneous tissue in the form of contusion. Except for strong focal pain and change of skin color, there were no other symptoms. All patients took symptomatic therapy by painkillers. Recovery period passed well, without complications. The conclusion is that sea turtle bites happening in the Boka bay could be a potential threat for swimmers. Therapy of bites is exclusively symptomatic.

Keywords

bites; loggerhead sea turtle; swimmers

Hrčak ID:

218964

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/218964

Publication date:

4.4.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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