Coral Fragment Injury Simulating a Sea Urchin Sting: A Rare Case Report from Mauritius in a Tourist

Tropical tourist destinations frequently encounter marine injuries. Sea urchin stings are commonly seen, but injuries with coral fragments can simulate their presentation, leading to diagnostic dilemmas. We report a case of a 36-year-old male Indian tourist who sustained a puncture wound over the plantar aspect of the foot while walking barefoot in shallow waters of Mauritius. The wound clinically resembled a sea urchin sting. However, wound exploration under aseptic precautions revealed a fragment of coral as the causative foreign agent. The wound was managed with removal of the fragment, irrigation, a compression bandage, tetanus prophylaxis, and oral antibiotics. Radiologic investigations following the procedure were negative for any retained foreign body. Follow-up showed satisfactory wound healing; nevertheless, the patient had local tenderness at the injury site and pain while walking, which was due to granuloma formation as revealed on an ultrasound without any signs of infection. The pain eventually subsided after 2 months. Coral injuries can mimic sea urchin stings clinically. Awareness of this possibility, careful wound exploration, and accurate diagnosis are critical to avoid misdiagnosis and complications. Tourists visiting the island countries should be aware of the dangers of aquatic wildlife and should be vigilant while taking part in water activities.