Around this time of the year, unfortunate
snorkelers and divers may find themselves itching a lot. The culprit is
pica pica (itchy itchy). When someone has come into contact with pica
pica, he or she will develop an itchy rash similar to chicken pox that
can last up to 10 days. It is a harmless rash, but the person who has it
may not agree, as they lie awake at night itching. One form of pica pica
is thought to be spherical thimble jellyfish blooms that contain millions
of juvenile jellyfish that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These
jellyfish can give people a rash because of the medusa (tentacle-like
structures) they have that contain nematocysts. The nematocysts are
microscopic and poisonous. They are activated by touch, leaving the
person with the pica pica rash. The traditional remedy is to put vinegar
or ammonia on the affected area.
There is a second type of pica pica,
which comes from a cyanobacteria called trichodesmium. This
bacteria is a toxin that does not respond to traditional remedies. So, if
you get it, you will just have to wait 7-10 days before it goes away. The
trichodesmium blooms like jellyfish, but fortunately the blooms are
visible to the naked eye. The blooms look like sawdust in the water. The
best way to avoid pica pica is to avoid the "sea sawdust." Trichodesmium
can cause liver and pulmonary damage and gastrointestinal illness. It is
possible for the bacterium to live in freshwater as well, causing
drinking water contamination. When this happens, it can poison animals
and birds that drink the water. There is one good thing about
trichodesmium, however. It may actually slow down global warming. The
bacterium uses photosynthesis to remove carbon dioxide and nitrogen from
the air. These gases cause light rays to become trapped in the earthís
atmosphere leading to warming. This actually may benefit the reef,
because coral is very sensitive to increases in water temperatures.
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