Introduction:: The clinical and epidemiological aspects associated with Portuguese man-of-war envenomation were investigated and characterized.
Methods:: Data from recorded envenomation events between 2005 and 2013 were provided by the GBMar (Group of Firemen Maritime of Maranhão State) and SEMUSC (Municipal Secretary of Security with Citizenship).
Results:: Most victims were children, and clinical manifestations included intense pain, edema, erythema, and rare systemic manifestations.
Conclusions:: The envenomation events were predictable and based on patterns involving multiple factors (environmental and/or human behavior); however, the initially applied measures did not match the current recommendations of the Health Ministry of Brazil.