Jellyfish are beautiful marine creatures. But their tentacles release toxins that cause itching and burning sensation when stung, and at times even turn out to be life-threatening. There is a popular myth that symptoms of a jellyfish sting can be controlled by urinating. ‘To pee or not to pee’, and other questions need to be answered to provide the correct first-aid help.
A trip to Gokarna went awry for Hedrinia Shylla, 22, a resident of Meghalaya, when she got multiple jellyfish stings. “We were all playing in the water when I felt some cuts over my legs. I freaked out when I realized something had bit me. I felt small, tiny bumps developing on both my legs,” says Shylla.
When she came out of the water, both her legs were stinging and painful. A localite informed her that she was stung by a jellyfish. She had intense pain due to multiple cuts and developed deep pigmentation after the rashes dried which slowly spread from her legs to her body for almost a day.
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What happens during a jellyfish sting
“A jellyfish sting triggers an immunological allergic reaction in our body in response to its venom,” says Dr Sandeep Gore, director of emergency medicine, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai.
He adds, “Among the vast variety of jellyfish species, most of them are usually harmless like the moon jellyfish. But stings of some species like Portuguese-man-of-war can be life-threatening.”
Jellyfish sting symptoms
“Even if it’s a harmless jellyfish, if a person is highly allergic to the venom, it can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis,” says Dr Gore. The symptoms depend on the species of the jellyfish, their venom and a person’s immunological response:
- In mild cases, itching and burning sensations, throbbing pain and rashes will be seen at the sting site.
- Symptoms during severe reactions include itching all over the abdomen, nausea, muscle cramps, vomiting, breathing difficulty, chest pain, numbness, low blood pressure, wherein a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Happiest Health spoke to first-responders Col. Austin Collaco, general manager of operations & training, and Vishal Naik, zonal lifeguard in-charge & trainer, from Drishti Lifesaving Services in Goa, a place with multiple reports of jellyfish stings every year.
“The duration of symptoms depends on the amount of area affected. If three to four tentacles have stung, then the symptoms of pain and swelling last for about 45 minutes. The rashes last for about a week in mild cases,” mentions Col. Collaco.
First-aid relief for a jellyfish sting
Life guards Col. Collaco and Naik advise the following steps in case of a jellyfish sting:
- Do not rub the stung area. Instead, remove the tentacles using gloves or tweezers. Consult lifeguards as they carry tweezers.
- Use seawater or vinegar on the stung area to diffuse the toxins. Do not use freshwater as it might cause more stinging.
- In case of Portuguese-man-of-war jellyfish sting, use only hot water of 45-50 degrees Celsius, as vinegar might worsen the symptom.
- Use ice packs to reduce the pain and swelling.
- Painkillers like paracetamol can be taken to manage the pain.
- Consult a doctor immediately if symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain and dizziness are noticed.
However, a 2017 study published in the international journal Toxins suggests that pouring seawater in case of Lion’s mane jellyfish sting might worsen the pain. Hence, it is always advised to seek a lifeguard’s help to deal with jellyfish stings.
How to manage jellyfish sting scars
Jellyfish sting rashes are usually localized at the site of the sting, but at times it can develop in the entire body, according to Dr Dileep Jude, a dermatologist from Pondicherry. “The rashes can either be just redness and swelling or large blisters that come with deep pigmentation and scarring after the rashes dry,” explains Dr Jude.
Treatment for localized marks involves antibiotics and steroids to control the swelling. “Depending on the severity of the sting and the species of jellyfish, the pigmentation marks can remain for three to six months. Mild rashes can be treated using de-pigmentation creams,” mentions Dr Jude. For deep scarring, laser treatment, micro-needling is recommended.
Takeaways
- The tentacles of the jellyfish release the toxins when stung.
- The toxin causes itching, burning sensation when stung, and occasionally be life-threatening
- Doctors suggest seawater or vinegar to clean the stung area. They recommend against using fresh water.