What is the best way to treat a jellyfish sting?
Unfortunately, jellyfish stings are a common part of diving and can put a damper on any day of scuba diving. Luckily, most cases only require self-treatment, with effects typically subsiding within 24-48 hours. In nearly all circumstances, jellyfish stings are not life-threatening, particularly in Thailand.
Luckily here in Phuket on our day trip dive tours we only very rarely encounter jellyfish at our dive sites.
Not all jellyfish are dangerous. Many people assume that all gelatinous, swimming marine animals encountered in the sea are “jellyfish” and that they all sting. However, not all jellyfish species are capable of stinging, and many that do have stinging cells are harmless to humans. Still, it is always best to avoid touching them.
In contrast, Australia is home to the box jellyfish (Cubozoans) and, though not technically a jellyfish, the Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia spp.), both of which can deliver painful stings. The Portuguese Man-of-War is found in Brazil, Mexico, the USA, and occasionally around Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Indian Ocean. Because these species can cause systemic symptoms, they are considered among the most dangerous cnidarians and typically require hospital treatment.
What Happens When I am Stung
Writing for Scientific American, the author Ciara Curtin explains the process of what occurs when we are stung by a jellyfish.
Jellyfish, those bulbous Medusa-like creatures, float near many of the world’s beaches. Some of the jellyfish’s skin cells are stinging cells, or cnidocytes. These specialized cells have organelles called nematocysts that contain venom. Cnidocytes are spread along the entire length of the jellyfish’s tentacles.
These tentacles can be so long that swimmers might not see the jellyfish that stings them, but they will certainly feel it. “The pain is instant,” says Joseph Burnett, a dermatologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who is part of the school’s Consortium of Jellyfish Stings, which tracks jellyfish injuries worldwide. Once stung, angry, red, whiplike lash marks mar the skin. The pain radiates from the sting site and starts to itch, burn and throb as it blisters. Scratching it, though, can make the pain worse because rubbing activates the nematocysts, which release more venom.
Prevention
The use of lightweight dive skins or full-length wetsuits provides adequate mechanical protection against jellyfish stings. If diving in waters known to have stinging jellyfish then covering up is the best solution.
Does Urinating on Jellyfish Stings really work?
For a long time, there have been rumours that urinating on jellyfish stings can assist with the pain. Growing up as a kid my old Italian grandmother actually believed that urine cured a lot including facial acne (I did however refuse to participate in trying that treatment).
Those a little sceptical will be relieved. Treating a jellyfish sting by urinating on it may actually cause someone even more pain, rather than relief. Urine can actually aggravate the jellyfish’s stingers into releasing more venom.
So what does work?
Here are Red Cross Australia’s current recommendations for treating Jellyfish stings.
The first two steps are inactivation and removal of any tentacles.
Remember to seek immediate professional medical attention in the case of severe symptoms.
Inactivation
Irrigate the area with generous amounts of household vinegar (4 to 6 per cent acetic acid solution). This does not reverse the effects of venom or control pain but may help to prevent further discharge of unfired nematocysts. If vinegar is not available then recommend washing the area with saltwater.
DO NOT USE FRESH WATER
Rinsing with fresh water will have the opposite effect. If freshwater is used the nematocysts in the cells release more venom and cause more pain.
Removal
Visible tentacles or filaments should be carefully removed with the aid of fine tweezers or protective barriers. Gloves, dive skins, women’s stockings or other thin materials can provide enough protection to prevent the envenomation of rescuers during tentacle removal.
Once rinsing deactivates all the nasty nematocysts, the attached bits of tentacle can be removed by coating them with shaving cream or seawater and sand followed by shaving with a razor or even a credit card.
After inactivating the stinging cells and removal of any additional tentacles etc then the next steps are treating for pain.
Tropical Waters – Ice Pack
If you are in tropical waters then apply a cold or ice pack to alleviate pain.
Non-Tropcial Waters – Hot Water
If you are in non-tropical waters then place the stung area in hot water for 20 minutes (no hotter than they can comfortably tolerate).
Symptomatic treatment
Treatment usually consists of painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications and topical anesthetics.
Steroids and Antihistamines
Use of topical steroids and antihistamines may be useful to reduce local swelling and possible allergic reactions.
Again seek immediate professional medical attention in the case of severe systemic symptoms.
Should blistering occur, refrain from releasing the fluid or breaking the skin and simply allow it to heal naturally. Blisters may rupture, but this is not a cause for alarm but does indicate a breach in the protective barrier of the skin and warrants keeping the area clean, dry and protected. Monitor for signs of infection until healed.
