Due Diligence/Handling with Aquatics - Harm to Humans - 8/14/03 I just read Anthony's reply to the guy with sore fingers. I totally agree with his points. I think it is very important to wear gloves when handling LR, especially uncured. <alas... very few aquarists take this seriously. There is some scary, albeit uncommonly occurring, nasties that we as aquarists can get from aquatics... Vibrio & Mycobacterium just for starters... yikes!> I bought some of the same type of rock (Lalo) a couple of weeks ago and it was disgusting. <Ha! Smells like the ocean... Jersey shore that is>> Now it's almost cured, but I still don't touch it without gloves. <amen and pass the ammunition!> In fact, it's probably healthier for the humans and the fishes to not put bare human skin into the tank. <very much agreed... and if not for our own safety, then aquarists must know that many inverts especially are quite aware and irritated by our presence. These are creatures that respond to elements of water chemistry measured in parts per million (ppm) or even parts per billion! As such, contaminants under ones finger nails for starters can be very significant or harmful. Deodorant (avec or sans aluminum in it) can make it in from armpits dipped in the tank while working in deep aquaria (seriously). Numerous chemicals from ladies nails... various cleansers we all use on our hands, etc. Indeed... many issues here> Goodness knows what poisons we might have on our skin, and a case of marine TB is not picnic. <actually... the "peeing orange thing" from the 4 month antibiotic regime is pretty cool <G>> One of the best cheap investments I've made for tank care is a pair of good full-arm gloves <great idea> LR is very abrasive and will easily  rub away layers of skin. The skin is a vital barrier against infection. I'm sure you've all heard the horror stories of people who have lost life or limb to rapidly invasive strep infections of minor abrasions. <true. In fact, a good friend of mine nearly lost his finger (amputation scheduled) to fish TB for it having been misdiagnosed for over a year in concert with arthritis. They had to carve out bone and flesh to save it> It is no surprise that this person's doctor knew nothing about infections from LR or other marine sources-they don't teach that sort of thing in medical school or residency. A Tropical (or travel) Medicine specialist or and Infectious Disease specialist may be more appropriate. <"Infectious Disease specialist"... is that what they call them nowadays? We used to just call them hookers> The victim definitely should seek another opinion. <heehee... yes. My last remark being even more amusing to me for it. And remember to wear gloves <G>> I agree with Anthony's theories. These may simply be irritant foreign bodies (spicules, setae, etc.) that need to be expelled by the body (like a sliver eventually is). They could also be some sort of parasite that got under the skin. When certain parasites (especially worm larvae)  that normally invade other species find themselves in an unnatural host (such as a human), they do not grow or reproduce normally, and may remain inside until they eventually die. <eeeeeeeeewwwwwww.> There's a condition called cutaneous larva migrans in which larvae of dog or cat hookworms crawl aimlessly around under a person's skin for a month or two until they die. <Holy cow... like the earwig in Star Trek II Wrath of Kahn?!?!?> They've been know to stay alive and crawling for up to a year-gives me the willies just writing about it. <I feel so dirty> Contact dermatitis ought to be more itchy and less painful. For info on contact dermatitis, check the following link:  http://www.drkoop.com/ency/article/000869.htm <big thanks for the link, doc> I wonder what these little white "seeds" the person described are. <hmmm... yeah. That part was off the beaten path> It seems to me that it would not be hard for this person to find a doctor who can carefully open up one of these white bumps and use a magnifier/microscope to see what's in there, living or not. <I'm not hungry anymore. I'll remember to ask you to write in when I'm dieting <G>> My best preventive medical advice to others is: WEAR GLOVES!  Steve Allen, MD <all kidding aside... much thanks for your professional and intelligent input my friend. A help to fellow aquarists indeed. Anthony>