MEDICAL DICTIONARY
Jellyfish sting: The injection into the skin of venom from the stinging unit (the nematocyst) of the jellyfish.
The jellyfish tentacles can extend for several feet and are lined with venom-filled cells (nematocysts). One tentacle may fire thousands of nematocysts into the skin on contact. On contact, each cell fires a barbed thread that penetrates the victim's skin.
The pain can be severe, particularly in the first hours after an attack, and itching is common. There may be weakness, nausea , headache , muscle pain and spasms, lacrimation (tearing) and nasal discharge , increased perspiration , changes in pulse rate, and chest pain . Welting may persist for weeks at the site and scarring may remain.
There are three jellyfish families. The box jellyfish include Chiropsalmus quadrumanus, a tropical jellyfish well known in waters along the southern US coast. Members of the other two families of jellyfish include the sea nettle and the Portuguese man-of-war. In North American waters, the Portuguese man-of-war has caused several known deaths. The sea wasp (Chironex fleckeri) and the box jellyfish (Chiropsalmus quadrigatus) have been responsible for deaths in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Do not touch dead jellyfish. They are capable of leaving a painful mark.
Sting wounds should be treated with vinegar for box jellyfish and with baking soda in a 50:50 mix with ocean water for sea nettles and the Portuguese man-of-war. Water alone may cause additional stinging cells to fire off.
Pain relief with aspirin or another pain reliever should be started immediately for minor stings. Narcotics may be needed for severe pain. Serious stings may require oxygen or cardiorespiratory assistance. IV fluids and epinephrine may be needed if shock develops. There is no antivenom for the stings of North American jellyfish but there is one for the stings of some Australian species.
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