Whether it’s a vacation abroad or a backyard BBQ, with the warm weather comes the increased risk of summer injuries and conditions. Do you know how to manage these five unique-to-summer presentations?
1. Rapidly Developing Vesicles
A 30-year-old presents with a 48-hour history of rapidly developing vesicles on both hands after preparing drinks for an outdoor party. They washed their hands afterward, but didn’t apply sunscreen before venturing outside.
What’s the cause and how do you treat this injury?
2. Boating Injury
In this summer injury case, a 20-year-old is brought in with a severe propeller injury after falling off the family’s boat. They have multiple femur fractures and internal degloving the entire length of the injury.
3. Jellyfish Stings
A 38‐year‐old is stung on the left shank and knee by a jellyfish, likely a Cyanea nozakii Kishinouye based on the observation of jellyfish in the area at the time. Within a few minutes, the affected areas become swollen and red (a). Photos show the progress of the affected area over the next few months (b) (c).
How do you manage these jellyfish stings?
4. Unknown Rash
A 23-year-old presents to urgent care with a two-day history of rash that they describe as “burning.” It started with two small erythematous lesions on the chest, but today, they woke up with this rash on their chest, legs, and forehead. They were in the sun three days ago, ate raw tuna two days ago but have never had previous issues, and have no systemic or URI symptoms.
Do you recognize this presentation?
5. Possible Shark Encounter
In this summer injury case, the patient states that they saw a shark approximately four to five feet long near them just prior to being bitten.
How would you manage this possible shark bite?
Published June 7, 2021; updated June 20, 2022
Join the Conversation
Sign up for Figure 1 and be part of a global community of healthcare professionals gaining medical knowledge, securely sharing real patient cases, and improving outcomes.
