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July 11, 2006 -- They have neither brains nor bones,
but that does not stop the tentacles of a jellyfish from
ruining a perfectly fun day at the beach. Experts at the
Blue
Ridge Poison Center at the University of Virginia
Health System warn that the sting from a jellyfish can
range from mild to fatal for humans, depending on the species
involved and how much skin is exposed to the venom.
There are more than 200 jellyfish species world-wide. Thankfully,
species found at beaches on the U.S. east coast are much
less toxic. The most common symptoms reported from these
jellyfish stings are:
•
A localized stinging or burning sensation
•
Redness and swelling
•
Throbbing or shooting pain
•
Blistering or a raised rash at the site of the sting.
Occasionally, a victim may experience more serious symptoms
that may require medical care, including:
•
Intense pain, swelling, or redness that spreads out to
other parts of the body not originally in contact with
the tentacles.
• Increased sweating or tearing of the eyes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, headache, fainting
•
Muscle spasms
•
Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing.
Often pieces of tentacles cling to the skin after contact,
and they can continue to release poison into the skin for
several hours. These should be immediately removed by gently
scraping with a towel, a handful of wet sand, or the thin
edge of a plastic knife or credit card. Apply vinegar to
the sting to help prevent any further release of poison.
Certain substances may actually increase the amount of
poison released and should NOT be applied to the skin,
including fresh water (salt water is fine), alcohol of
any kind, and ammonia. Over-the-counter pain relievers,
antihistamines, topical cortisone creams, cold packs applied
to the sting, and immersion of the stung area in hot water
all may provide some relief for victims with mild symptoms.
The most dangerous species, the ‘box jelly’ (or ‘sea
wasp’), live only in the Indo-Pacific waters near
Australia. These jellyfish have been known to cause death
within hours or even minutes of a sting! To capture food,
jellies have a net of long tentacles that contain thousands
of poisonous, stinging cells. When the tentacles brush
against prey or a human, thousands of tiny stinging cells
explode, launching microscopic barbed stingers (called
nematocysts) and poison into the victim. The stinging cells
also protect the jellyfish from being eaten by predators.
For advice or more information on jellyfish stings, contact
the Blue Ridge Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Cell users
dial 1-800-451-1428.
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