Question - What is coral dermatitis?
Answer - The cited article reports “Coral dermatitis is a form of contact dermatitis that is caused by numerous species of coral that produce nematocysts, which are specialized organelles that discharge dermatologic toxins. Envenomation may result in both acute and delayed reactions. Acute reactions are thought to be forms of irritant contact dermatitis and typically present with urticarial or vesiculobullous plaques immediately or within hours after exposure. Delayed reactions are more likely to be forms of allergic contact dermatitis that are mediated by type I and type IV hyper- sensitivity reactions and are characterized by firm, localized papules that arise days to weeks after exposure. (Salik J and Tang R. Coral dermatitis. 2015 NEJM 373(2): e2)