jellyfish sting

Jellyfish Sting: description

A jellyfish sting (sometimes falsely referred to as a jellyfish bite) occurs when the skin comes into contact with the poisonous and often meter-long tentacles of a jellyfish while bathing in the sea. The animals are just like polyps and sea anemones to the cnidarians (Cnidaria) and occur in virtually all oceans. Particularly dangerous is a jellyfish sting from very poisonous representatives such as:

• Portuguese Galley (Physalia physalis): Western Mediterranean (off Portugal), in tropical-subtropical seas.
• Dice jellyfish or Sea wasp (Chironex fleckeri): In the western Pacific Ocean, especially off the north-eastern coast of Australia.

Swimmers in German coastal regions can also catch jellyfish stings, such as Cyanea capillata, the yellow hair jellyfish or jellyfish. It is widespread in the North and Baltic Seas as well as in the cooler Atlantic and Pacific. Unpleasant is the Mediterranean jellyfish, which can occur in swarms, especially in midsummer.

Jellyfish Sting: Symptoms

A jellyfish sting causes primarily local symptoms such as severe pain and more or less severe inflammatory skin reactions (with redness, wheals and swelling) – similar to ant bites or the response to nettles. Sometimes itching and general symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety or headache occur.

If the jellyfish sting originates from one of the highly poisonous species, such as the crawfish jellyfish, very severe cardio-vascular reactions can develop with fatal consequences.

Regardless of whether a jellyfish sting causes only harmless or severe symptoms, the body can in any case be allergic to it – even to the anaphylactic shock, which can also be fatal.

Jellyfish Sting: Causes and Risk Factors

In jellyfish (and also other cnidarians), there are special cells in the outermost cell layer, the so-called nettle cells or nettle capsules (nematocysts). They contain a spiral wound nettle thread. When touched (for example, with the skin of a swimmer) this nettle thread is expelled explosively, whereby he injected a poison mixture (nettle poison) into the skin of the victim – one speaks of a jellyfish sting. With their nettle poison they usually paralyze or kill small prey animals. Depending on the species, this poison can also be unpleasant for humans.

The nettle poison consists of various proteins (proteins), the cell-dissolving (cytolytic) and nerve-damaging (neurotoxic) act and trigger the described jellyfish sting symptoms. Depending on the jellyfish species, the animals have different toxic poisons.

Sometimes their tentacles tear off and swim freely in the sea. This is particularly unpleasant when affected communities build extra nets in the sea to keep out sources of certain swimmer zones. The free-floating tentacles can still trigger reactions and also through the nets.

Even dead animals on the beach can have active nettle capsules for several days. Therefore, one should approach them only with caution.

Jellyfish Sting: Examinations and Diagnosis

The ambulance / doctor will ask the patient or any accompanying persons if they suspect a jellyfish sting, first of all, about necessary information, such as:

• When and where did the jellyfish sting happen?
• What complaints do you have / does the patient have?
• What first aid measures have been taken?

The doctor will examine the patient immediately and examine the jellyfish burns. Signs of allergic reaction or shock will check vital signs (such as blood pressure).

Jellyfish Sting: Treatment

Those who suffer a jellyfish sting should leave the water immediately – possibly with the help of other people. To inactivate the nettle cells, pour wine vinegar onto the affected skin if possible. But at least you should mechanically remove attached tentacles. To do this, sprinkle with sand and carefully scrape off the tentacles (with a spatula, a knife back or a bank card, for example). You should avoid strong pressure, so that not burst further Nesselzellen.

Wearing protective gloves during this initial care prevents the patient or helper from suffering (further) jellyfish burns.

If no vinegar is available, you can also rinse the tentacles with sea water (except in the dice jellyfish season in appropriate areas – here the seawater may contain tentacle remains). Under no circumstances should you use fresh water or alcohol, because this can activate the remaining Nesselzellen!

Cooling with ice relieves the discomfort. In addition, you can later rub the affected skin with an antihistamine (“allergy”) or cortisone.

For the treatment of jellyfish stings by dice jellyfish is in Australia an antiserum available.

When should the doctor be alerted?

In case of a jellyfish sting by the sea wasp, Portuguese galley or other highly poisonous jellyfish species, the emergency doctor should be alerted immediately. This also applies to any other jellyfish sting that causes severe discomfort.

So you should immediately alert the emergency services in a fire jellyfish combustion, if larger skin areas are affected by the jellyfish sting, very severe pain or show signs of allergic shock. Even if you are unsure how severe the jellyfish sting is, you should call the rescue or the water watch as a precaution.

Jellyfish Sting: Disease course and prognosis

The jellyfish sting of a jellyfish is uncomfortable with its pain, itching and rash, but usually not dangerous. Caution is only required if the patient is severely allergic or panicky. The jellyfish sting of a highly venomous species such as the sea wasp can be deadly.

Some patients still have months after one jellyfish sting for complaints such as itching and sensory disorders. These usually need lengthy treatment with cortisone or antihistamines.