I was diving in the Red Sea in September 2015, and got stung by a fire coral on the back of my hand (by a terrible accident, of course). Fire corals are not true corals although they do look like corals. Clinical aspects. No problem mon. Rarely, fire coral can cause systemic toxicity. Symptoms of a fire coral cut are burning, pain, red rash, itching, lymph gland swelling, and occasionally, nausea and vomiting. A person’s reaction to fire coral depends on the amount of exposure to the toxins, extent of the abrasion for a hard coral and any pre-existing sensitivity — like some folks have for bee stings. Fire corals are not true corals although they do look like corals. Fire corals are not true corals. The fire coral (Millepora dichotoma) is not a true coral at all, but a colony-forming marine organism related to jellyfish and anemones.It is more properly known as a hydrocoral. Just ignore the sting unless you are really allergic or are having medical symptoms beyond the simple stinging. Individuals who dive or swim in these areas without wearing a wetsuit or dive skin, even when exercising great care around corals, are susceptible to fire coral stings on exposed skin. Fire corals (Millepora) are not true reef building corals but rather small animals with bright yellow-green to brown skeletal coverings that can be razor-sharp.
Like jellyfish, the sea coral can inflict painful stings.Divers in tropical and subtropical waters should learn how to identify this organism and avoid it. Fire corals (Millepora alcicornis) are members of the Cnidaria phylum, and although fire coral looks like coral, it is a member of the class Hydrozoa and more closely related to jellyfish and other stinging anemones.Fire corals are typically encountered off the Florida coast, in the Caribbean reefs and across the Bermuda platform. The degree of pain inflicted and the subse-quent severity of the reaction depends on the area of skin surface and the sensitivity of the location making contact Fire corals are more closely related to jellyfish. Fire coral stings are generally mild to moderate in severity and require management similar to that of other hydrozoan stings (eg, jellyfish, sea nettle, Portuguese man-of-war).
Irritating toxin is discharged into the skin from small structures on the coral — the mechanism is similar to jellyfish stings. Bearded fireworms (Hermodice carunculata) are a type of bristle worm that can be found throughout the Caribbean, the tropical western Atlantic, and near some islands, such as Ascension Island in the Mid-Atlantic.They can be found pretty much anywhere in these zones. Fire coral stings are generally mild to moderate in severity and require management similar to that of other hydrozoan stings (eg, jellyfish, sea nettle, Portuguese man-of-war). What is the Prognosis of Coral Sting? A: You had an atypical reaction to fire coral. (Outcomes/Resolutions) The prognosis of Coral Sting is generally good with effective treatment, since a majority of the cases are mild; However, severe stings combined with delayed treatment may be life-threatening; Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Coral Sting:
Immediately following contact with fire coral, the victim suffers burning or stinging pain.