Jellyfish

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Jellyfish

Definition:

Poisoning due to a sting from jellyfish.

Poisonous Ingredient:

jellyfish venom

Where Found:

jellyfish or Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia species)
jellyfish or sea-wasp (Chironex fleckeri, Chiropsalmus quadrigatus), found near the coasts of Northern Australia and the Philippines.
related species

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

Portuguese Man-of-War:

body as a whole
- numbness and arm or leg pain
- chest pain
- swallowing difficulty
- weakness
- muscle pain
- muscle spasms
- sweating
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- runny nose
- watery eyes
skin
- red raised areas where stung
gastrointestinal
- abdominal pain
- nausea
heart and blood vessels
- alteration in pulse rate
nervous system
- headache

Sea-Wasp:

body as a whole
- pain (severe)
- swelling
respiratory
- difficulty breathing
gastrointestinal
- nausea
- vomiting
skin
- starts to die in the area of the sting
heart and blood vessels
- heartbeat slowed

Home Treatment:

Portuguese Man-of-War:
Wash with salt water. Remove any tentacles and stinging units (nematocysts). Protect affected area if possible. Soak the area with a solution of vinegar and water (1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water) for about 30 minutes to remove any remaining tentacles. Rinse the area and then resoak with more 1/2 strength vinegar.

(May also use alcohol in place of vinegar. To remove remaining tentacles, may use flour or shaving cream and scrape with a sharp instrument.) Apply a cream containing a pain killer, an antihistamine, and a corticosteroid.

Sea-Wasp (usually found in Australian waters):
CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE. Death can occur within minutes.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the marine animal if possible
the time stung

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital, and any appropriate first aid that can be administered prior to arrival.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Portuguese Man-of-War
- Open and maintain airway if necessary.
- Treat the symptoms.
Sea Wasp
- Give antiserum.
- Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Portuguese Man-of-War stings are rarely fatal. Sea-Wasp stings can be fatal in minutes.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.