What are the best ways to treat jellyfish stings and other common beach ailments? Find out the most effective remedies for relieving the pain and itching caused by these marine creatures.

Jellyfish Stings: Effective Treatments

Jellyfish are a common culprit of ocean-related injuries, with their translucent tentacles covered in stinging capsules called nematocysts. When these tentacles come into contact with skin, the nematocysts pierce the skin and inject venom, resulting in a burning, throbbing, and itchy sensation. However, jellyfish are not the only creatures in the sea that can cause such reactions. Stingrays, scorpion fish, and even catfish all have venomous spines, while sea urchins, though not usually venomous, have protruding spines that can puncture beachgoers’ bare feet.

Vinegar: The Go-To Remedy

One of the most effective treatments for jellyfish stings is pouring ordinary vinegar directly over the affected area for about 30 seconds. The weak acid in vinegar helps to stop the nematocysts from firing, neutralizing the venom. If you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can ask a lifeguard, as they often keep a bottle in their first-aid kits.

Removing Tentacles

After neutralizing the nematocysts with vinegar, you can safely remove any remaining tentacles. Avoid using your bare fingers, as this could result in another sting. Instead, use a gloved hand, tweezers, or scrape them off with the edge of a shell, a sand shovel, or the dull side of a knife blade.

The Power of Salt Water

If you don’t have access to vinegar, you can flush the affected area with salt water. This is a safe and effective way to help relieve the symptoms of a jellyfish sting. Avoid using other home remedies like alcohol, ammonia, urine, or bleach, as these may cause the nematocysts to discharge more venom.

The Credit Card Trick

Another method for removing the desensitized nematocysts is to cover the sting with shaving cream to help draw them out and then scrape them off with a credit card. This should only be done after treating the area with vinegar, as pressure will otherwise trigger more stinging.

The Healing Power of Heat

Studies have shown that applying heat is more effective than ice for relieving the pain of jellyfish stings. After scraping off the nematocysts, soak the stung area in hot water until the pain is gone. If hot water is not available, you can use a heating pad instead.

Ice: A Convenient Option

While heat may be more effective, ice can also provide some relief for jellyfish stings. After scraping off the nematocysts, place an ice pack or a bag of ice directly on the sting for pain relief. Keep the ice on until the pain subsides.

Preventing Beach Ailments

To avoid these painful encounters, it’s important to avoid swimming in infested waters, especially after stormy weather, and to be careful not to step on beached creatures that appear to be dead. Choose a beach with trained lifeguards, who are likely to be familiar with the species you may encounter and can help keep you out of the riskier spots.

Other Seaside Ailments

Jellyfish stings are not the only beach-related problem you may encounter. Swimmer’s itch, a condition caused by larval flatworms that burrow into the skin and die, can also be a nuisance. This condition is more commonly reported in lakes and ponds in northern areas of the United States, but it can also occur in marine waters, where it’s known as clam digger’s itch.

Treating Swimmer’s Itch

To prevent swimmer’s itch, avoid swimming in infested waters, especially after stormy weather. If you do develop the condition, the itching can be even more intense than a mosquito bite. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams and medications can help provide relief, but it’s important to avoid scratching the affected areas, as this can lead to skin irritation and infection.

Staying Safe at the Beach

By following these tips and being aware of the potential hazards at the beach, you can enjoy your time in the sun and surf without fear of painful encounters with marine creatures. Remember to choose a beach with trained lifeguards, avoid swimming in infested waters, and be prepared with the right remedies in case of an emergency.

11 Soothing Strategies For Jellyfish Stings And Other Seaside Problems

Where unsuspecting swimmers swim, dangerous creatures may be lurking. Forget the relatively rare sharks. Jellyfish, sea urchins, stingrays, spiny fish, coral, and even microscopic parasites are far more likely to make a day at the beach feel like, well, no day at the beach. Jellyfish are the most common culprits of ocean vacations gone awry. Their flowing, translucent tentacles are covered with stinging capsules called nematocysts. When a tentacle brushes up against your skin, the nematocysts are ejected, piercing the skin and injecting stinging venom. The result: a burning, throbbing, itching sensation that can feel as minor as a paper cut or more like a bee sting.

Unfortunately, jellyfish aren’t the only stinging creatures in the sea. Stingrays, scorpion fish, and even catfish all have venomous spines. Sea urchins, though not usually venomous, have protruding spines that can pierce beach-goers’ bare feet. All this might make fresh water swimming seem less hazardous. Not necessarily. A dip in a lake could impart an annoying itch. That would be swimmer’s itch—a condition caused by larval flatworms that burrow into the skin and die. Each one leaves a bump, called a papule, that can be even itchier than a mosquito bite, says Harvey Blankespoor, PhD. Although it can occur in marine waters, where it’s known as clam digger’s itch, it is more often reported in lakes and ponds in northern areas of the United States. Blankespoor estimates that roughly 250,000 people get swimmer’s itch each year, and the four worst states for the problem are Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington.

To prevent these painful encounters, avoid swimming in infested waters, especially after stormy weather, and be careful not to step on beached creatures that appear to be dead. Choose a beach with trained lifeguards, who are likely to be familiar with the species you may encounter and can help keep you out of the riskier spots. Here’s how to soothe yourself from jellyfish stings or other sea creatures attacks.

Jellyfish Stings

Pour On The Vinegar

Ordinary vinegar may be your best defense against nematocytes left behind by many, but not all, jellyfish. “The weak acid is useful to stop them from firing,” says Joseph W. Burnett, MD. Pour vinegar directly over the affected area for about 30 seconds, he suggests. Once you’ve neutralized the nematocysts, you can safely pick off the tentacles. If you don’t have any vinegar with you, ask a lifeguard. Some of them keep a bottle in their first-aid kits.

However, if you think you’ve been stung by a Portuguese man-of-war, don’t apply vinegar or anything else. First remove the remaining nematocysts and seek immediate medical attention, particularly if you are in severe pain. These creatures, with tentacles that can reach 40 feet or more, are common in the waters off Hawaii. Avoid removing any tentacles adhering to the skin with your bare fingers—you could get another sting. “Pick off the big pieces with a gloved hand, tweezers, or scrape them off with the edge of a shell, a sand shovel, or the dull side of a knife blade,” says Jeffrey N. Bernstein, MD.

MORE: 18 Bizarre Home Remedies That Work

Rinse It With Salt Water

If you don’t have anything to neutralize the stingers, flush the area with ocean water. “Salt water is handy and safe,” observes Craig Thomas, M.D. Avoid other old wives’ remedies like alcohol, ammonia, urine, and bleach. They may be harmful, causing the nematocysts to discharge more venom.

Use A Credit Card

One common method for removing the desensitized nematocysts is to cover the sting with shaving cream to help draw them out and then scrape them off with a credit card, says Bernstein. Don’t have a can of shaving cream in your beach bag? Ask the lifeguard because some of them keep it in their first-aid kits. Do this only after you’ve treated the area with vinegar, since pressure will otherwise trigger more stinging.

Heat It Up

Bernstein and his colleagues conducted a study to determine whether heat or ice worked better to relieve the pain of jellyfish stings. In the test, of those treated with ice packs, just over half reported pain relief within an hour. Almost all those treated by immersing the sting in hot water felt no pain an hour later. “Water should be hot to the touch, but obviously not so hot that you burn yourself,” explains Bernstein. After you scrape off the jellyfish nematocysts, stick the stung area in hot water until you feel no pain when you remove it. If hot water is unavailable, apply a heating pad to the area instead.

Put It On Ice

While heat may be more effective, ice is often handier at the beach. Scrape off the nematocysts and place an ice pack or a bag of ice directly on the sting for some pain relief, says Bernstein. Keep it on until the pain subsides.

Head To The Drugstore

For the pain of a jellyfish sting, take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen, says  Burnett. “Topical preparations don’t work in the initial treatment phase. They don’t penetrate deeply enough to ease the pain. An over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or a topical antihistamine may be helpful if symptoms persist beyond 24 hours. Consult a physician if symptoms last more than a few days,” Bernstein says.

Other Water Woes

Special Care Needed For Sea Urchin Injuries

A stroll along coastal waters could prove painful if you step on a hidden sea urchin. These creatures have sharp, brittle spines that penetrate the skin and break off. Surprisingly, small pieces embedded in the skin may be best left untreated. “Big, loosely penetrated spines can be plucked off, but otherwise they have to be dug and cut out, which does more harm than good,” says Thomas. The spines will either work themselves out or they will dissolve within 3 weeks. It’s rare for infection to occur, but, just in case, watch for signs of redness and swelling.

Treat Venomous Fish Stings 

Stingrays hide just beneath the sand. Surprise one, and you’re likely to discover that the end of its tail contains a powerful stinger. Stingray stings are immediately painful, just like a bee sting, says Thomas. To relieve pain, remove the stinger and any poison tissue remaining on your skin by rinsing with salt or fresh water. Then, pull out any embedded parts with tweezers. Bernstein has some firsthand experience with stingray stings…make that first- foot experience. While on the west coast of Mexico, he stepped on a ray and felt “one of the most painful things I’ve ever felt in my life,” a pain that shot from the bottom of his foot up his spine. His friends knew what to do: They heated up water and he soaked his foot, which provided almost immediate pain relief. You may have to leave your foot in hot water for 20 minutes to an hour, he recommends.

To prevent stingray stings, do what Bernstein calls the “stingray shuffle” while walking in their territory. Slide your feet along the ocean floor so if you contact a ray, it will scurry away. Their stinging mechanism is a reflexive action that may fire when you step on them: “You feel a squish before you feel the pain,” he notes. Other fish, like catfish or scorpion fish, have venomous spines that cause a painful reaction if they scrape your skin. Again, immersion in hot water will bring relief. “We recommend hot water for most marine venoms because the heat disables the venom’s proteins,” says Bernstein.

Quell Coral Pain

Coral can give snorkelers or waders a nasty scrape. “These cuts are a combination of a sting, from the nematocysts in the coral, and a dirty cut. They get infected often,” says Thomas. Clean the wound thoroughly, removing any fragments of coral in the skin with tweezers. Then scrub the area with gauze soaked in clean, fresh water, and coat with an antiseptic containing bacitracin. Fresh water, in treating coral cuts, is unlikely to trigger nematocysts and is essential for cleaning the wound.

Soothe Sea Lice

Not really lice at all, sea lice are jellyfish larvae, sometimes encountered in warm ocean waters. Often, they get trapped inside a swimmer’s bathing suit or under a T-shirt. Once they sit there for a while, they start stinging. “It causes an almost allergic reaction,” says Bernstein. “You’ll get an itchy irritation in the area around the waistband or under the bathing suit.” Shower to remove any larvae that might still be on your skin, then treat the itch with an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl, or a hydrocortisone cream.

Squelch Swimmer’s Itch

Swimmer’s itch, which is actually caused by an encounter with a waterborne parasite, can affect every part of the body that’s been in the water. The parasite leaves a small, round, itchy bump wherever it has entered. Bumps show up within 15 minutes of contact with the parasite and last for 1 to 2 weeks. Here are a few recommended remedies for soothing that itch.

• Try Over-the-Counter Treatments. Swimmer’s itch that covers the entire body or is intensely irritating could require a doctor-prescribed antihistamine, says Blankespoor. Less-severe cases can be treated with topical anti-itch formulas, such as cortisone creams. Or look for a nonprescription cream or ointment containing benzocaine, such as Boil-Ease, to relieve itching.
• Don’t Drip Dry. Toweling off the moment you step out of the lake won’t always protect you against swimmer’s itch. But some species of the parasite enter only as the water dries on the skin, so it’s a good idea to dry yourself immediately after a swim.

“When I get swimmer’s itch, I take a washcloth, run it under hot water—but not so hot that it burns—and press it right on my skin. It totally desensitizes the itch for about 4 hours,” says Blankespoor.

When To Call A Doctor About Jellyfish Stings

Any time a jellyfish sting causes severe pain that is not alleviated by over-the-counter medications, get to a doctor, recommends Burnett. An allergic reaction to a jellyfish sting is rare but not unheard of, and it requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling around the mouth
• Swelling of the limb where the sting occurred
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps

If you have a rash over a large portion of your body, it’s a good idea to seek medical care, Bernstein says. In addition, infections that result from marine injuries should be addressed by a doctor who will prescribe antibiotics.

Panel Of Advisors

Jeffrey N. Bernstein, MD, is medical director of the Florida Poison Information Center in Miami.

Harvey Blankespoor, PhD, is a biology professor at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, who studies swimmer’s itch.

Joseph W. Burnett, MD, is a former chairman of dermatology at University of Maryland in Baltimore, and president of the International Consortium for Jellyfish Stings.

Craig Thomas, MD, is president of Hawaii Emergency Physicians Associated and the coauthor of All Stings Considered.

A Pain at the Beach

The Bottom Line

Jellyfish swim in waters off beaches and so pose a risk to human swimmers. When their tentacles touch skin, they pierce the skin and release a pain-causing substance. Treatment involves removing the tentacles and stopping the pain; both can be hard to do! Allergic reactions are possible, too.

Need help?
Get help onlineor

Call 1-800-222-1222

The Full Story

Jellyfish or sea nettles are found in waters off beaches around the world. While they are beautiful swimmers, an encounter with one can certainly interrupt a beautiful day. To avoid problems, stay out of the water when jellyfish are known to be numerous in a particular area. Also, do not pick up jellyfish or jellyfish parts from the beach. Even dead jellyfish can give nasty sting, causing pain and a rash at the site of contact.

Jellyfish protect themselves with nematocysts on their tentacles. When these make contact with human skin, a small sharp harpoon-like structure pierces the skin and deposits venom. The pain of a jellyfish sting is really in two parts: a skin puncture and a pain-inducing substance in the puncture wound.

Ideally, treating a jellyfish sting would involve two things: inactivating the venom and removing the tentacles. Unfortunately, no one substance counteracts every type of jellyfish sting. For example, vinegar helps for some jellyfish stings, but makes others worse. Also, more than one type of jellyfish may be found in a given area.

If you are stung by a jellyfish, here are some first aid steps:

• Rinse the area with plenty of sea water. Do NOT use fresh water. Avoid vinegar, ammonia, alcohol, or other liquids unless you know what type of jellyfish it was and the best treatment for that particular type.
• Remove any remaining tentacles.
  • Protect your hands while doing this by using tweezers, heavy gloves, or a towel.
  • Then, apply shaving cream or a paste of baking soda and water. Shave with a razor or the edge of a credit card.
• Treat pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever. If pain is severe, see a doctor for more effective relief.
• Treat itching with an over-the-counter anti-itch cream and/or an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl^®). If itching is severe, see a doctor for a stronger preparation.
• See a doctor if someone is stung in the mouth, in or near the eye, on a large area of skin, or on the genital region.

If the person has trouble breathing, starts wheezing, or develops hives or welts on other body parts, it could be an allergic reaction. This is a medical emergency; call 911 immediately. Also call 911 if the person develops chest pain.

Keep the Poison Control phone number with you, even at the beach. Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach a local expert if you are stung by a jellyfish or have any other kind of poisoning problem. The number works from every state in the U.S.

Rose Ann Gould Soloway, RN, BSN, MSEd, DABAT emerita
Clinical Toxicologist

Poisoned?

Call


1-800-222-1222


or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

• Stay out of the water when jellyfish are known to be numerous in a particular area.
• Do not pick up jellyfish or jellyfish parts from the beach.

This Really Happened

A 39-year-old woman was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean while on vacation in August. When she emerged from the water she had many red, painful welts on her legs that appeared to be from jellyfish. She did not see any embedded tentacles. She applied vinegar and diphenhydramine [Benadryl®] cream to the areas but was still in significant pain. She called Poison Control 6 hours after being stung. She was advised to bathe the areas in salt water, not fresh water. (Fresh water may discharge nematocysts, cells found in jellyfish tentacles that contain hollow coiled tubes with toxic barbs that deliver a sting.) Poison Control also recommended that she try oral diphenhydramine and topical hydrocortisone cream and that she be medically evaluated at an urgent care center; she was having so much pain and she needed a tetanus booster shot.

During a follow-up call from Poison Control the next day, the patient reported that she didn’t get seen at urgent care but was doing better. She had applied hydrocortisone cream to the affected areas and was having only some itching.

Two days after the stings, the patient reported during a follow-up call from Poison Control that the itching and redness had resolved and that she would check with her primary physician about getting a tetanus booster.

Poison Control was next consulted about the patient by an emergency physician 6 days after being stung. She reported a flare-up of her initial symptoms: pain, itching and a rash despite taking antihistamines, though the emergency physician believed she wasn’t taking adequate amounts. Poison Control recommended application of hydrocortisone cream, a topical anesthetic, therapeutic doses of diphenhydramine, pain medication and tetanus immunization.

Eight days after the exposure, the patient told Poison Control that she was doing better and was taking antihistamines. Two weeks after being stung, her symptoms were resolving and she was feeling much better.

Share this:

Facebook

Twitter

Reddit

For More Information

Photos and information about jellyfish (Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History)

References

Ward NT, Darracq MA, Tomaszewski C, Clark RF. Evidence-based treatment of jellyfish stings in North American and Hawaii. Ann Emerg Med. 2012;60:399-414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2012.04.010

Poisoned?

Call


1-800-222-1222


or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

• Stay out of the water when jellyfish are known to be numerous in a particular area.
• Do not pick up jellyfish or jellyfish parts from the beach.

This Really Happened

A 39-year-old woman was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean while on vacation in August. When she emerged from the water she had many red, painful welts on her legs that appeared to be from jellyfish. She did not see any embedded tentacles. She applied vinegar and diphenhydramine [Benadryl®] cream to the areas but was still in significant pain. She called Poison Control 6 hours after being stung. She was advised to bathe the areas in salt water, not fresh water. (Fresh water may discharge nematocysts, cells found in jellyfish tentacles that contain hollow coiled tubes with toxic barbs that deliver a sting.) Poison Control also recommended that she try oral diphenhydramine and topical hydrocortisone cream and that she be medically evaluated at an urgent care center; she was having so much pain and she needed a tetanus booster shot.

During a follow-up call from Poison Control the next day, the patient reported that she didn’t get seen at urgent care but was doing better. She had applied hydrocortisone cream to the affected areas and was having only some itching.

Two days after the stings, the patient reported during a follow-up call from Poison Control that the itching and redness had resolved and that she would check with her primary physician about getting a tetanus booster.

Poison Control was next consulted about the patient by an emergency physician 6 days after being stung. She reported a flare-up of her initial symptoms: pain, itching and a rash despite taking antihistamines, though the emergency physician believed she wasn’t taking adequate amounts. Poison Control recommended application of hydrocortisone cream, a topical anesthetic, therapeutic doses of diphenhydramine, pain medication and tetanus immunization.

Eight days after the exposure, the patient told Poison Control that she was doing better and was taking antihistamines. Two weeks after being stung, her symptoms were resolving and she was feeling much better.

90,000 treatment for jellyfish stings | the best home

Different types of jellyfish are found at different depths of the seas and oceans. Their forms may vary, but they all have a transparent body with several snake-like tentacles.

These sea creatures are a beautiful sight, but they are also very dangerous because of their venomous bite. Its claws are studded with thousands of tiny prickly pricks that release venom when pierced through the skin.

To counteract these toxins, your body releases inflammatory substances at the site of the bite, causing a variety of symptoms.

Some types of jellyfish are more dangerous than others. The toxicity of a venom can vary from one to another, and this will determine the severity of the interaction with some other factor. However, in most cases, a jellyfish sting does not require medical attention or a hospital visit and can be treated effectively at home. Read on to find out more.

Diagnosis

In general, after a jellyfish sting, you do not need to see a doctor. If you see a doctor, he or she will be able to diagnose your injury by looking at it.

Sometimes the treatment depends on the type of jellyfish that caused the sting. The doctor may take samples from the bites.

treatment

Treatment for jellyfish stings includes first aid and medication, depending on the type of jellyfish, the severity of the sting, and your reaction to it.

First Aid

Most jellyfish stings can be treated as follows:

1. Gently pluck the visible tentacles with forceps.
2. Apply hot water compresses to the skin for a long time. Use water with a temperature of 110-113 F (43-45 C). If a thermometer is not available, test the water on an uninjured person’s arm or elbow. It should be hot and not burn. Place the affected skin under water or hot showers for 20 to 45 minutes.

Steps to avoid

These treatments are useless and unproven:

• burning bites
• Sea water wash
• Washing with human urine
• Fresh water wash
• Use meat tenderizer
• Use of alcohol, ethanol or ammonia
• rubbing with a towel
• Use of compression bandages

Treatment

• Emergency care. A person with a severe reaction to a jellyfish sting may need cardiac resuscitation (CPR), a life support device, or antivenom if the sting was from a cube jellyfish.
• Oral treatment. Rash or other skin reactions resulting from delayed hypersensitivity may be treated with oral antihistamines or corticosteroids. You may also be given oral medicine to relieve pain.
• Eye wash. A jellyfish sting in or near the eye requires immediate medical attention to control the pain and flush the eye well. You will most likely be seen by a doctor who specializes in treating the eyes (ophthalmologist).

Home remedies for jellyfish stings

These home remedies are recommended for mild reactions to jellyfish stings. Please consult your doctor if you are not sure about the toxicity of the bite.

1. Sea Water Flush

If you are stung by a jellyfish on the beach or while swimming, the first thing you should do is rinse the affected area in sea/marine salt water. Salt helps to inactivate toxins to some extent for a milder reaction.

In addition, this rinsing process helps to remove any tongues that may stick to your skin. If these bites are left unresolved, they will continue to release more venom into the skin, causing a severe reaction. It also continues to sting and damage the skin.

Disclaimer: Do not use fresh water, alcohol, ethanol, meat tenderizer, or ammonia on the affected area as they may worsen the reaction. Also, do not rub or apply pressure to the affected area.

When a jellyfish touches the skin, it leaves many small stinging cells on the surface, which continue to penetrate the skin and exacerbate the reaction. Your goal should be to remove these pricks, but rubbing or pressing will only push them deeper into the skin.

2. Vinegar wash

After washing the sting with salty seawater, your next step is to remove the thousands of microscopic stinging cells left on the surface of the skin.

These stinging cells will continue to penetrate the skin and release more toxins inside, causing a more severe reaction. In addition, frequent injections cause more pain and discomfort.

One way to do this is to moisten the bite site with a generous amount of homemade vinegar. According to some in vitro studies, this potent fluid can help inactivate or damage thousands of microscopic stinging cells on the surface of affected skin that have not yet penetrated.

Thus, rinsing with vinegar stops the repetitive sting that occurs after first contact with the jellyfish’s tentacles. By reducing the amount of toxins entering the body, this treatment can help reduce the reaction.

Vinegar works against all types of jellyfish stings without the risk of side effects or unwanted reactions.

Method:

• Soak affected skin in 5% acetic acid or household vinegar for at least 30 seconds.

3. Use tweezers or a towel to remove stings

Another way to remove remaining stinging cells from the surface of the skin is to pluck them by hand.

But don’t do this with your bare hands, as they will catch on the stingers. Wear gloves or use a towel when you touch the bite. You can also use tweezers to get the job done accurately with minimal skin to skin contact.

4. Soak in hot water

This gentle heat therapy stimulates circulation under the skin and relieves pain and inflammation caused by jellyfish stings.

Method:

• Fill a bucket, sink, or tub with standard hot tap water at 107°F to 115°F (42°C to 45°C).
• Soak the affected body part in water for 10-20 minutes or until the water is cold.
• Repeat as needed, but with intermittent intervals in between.

Always test the water to make sure it’s not too hot before dipping your skin into it.

5. Apply an ice pack

Applying cold to the bite site numbs the major nerve endings, reducing pain, although this desensitizing effect does not last long.

Method:

• In addition, the cold helps reduce skin inflammation, which manifests itself in the form of redness, swelling and itching.
• Wrap a few ice cubes in a thin cloth or towel to make a cold compress.
• Apply to sore or inflamed area for 10 minutes.
• Remove it for a while and reapply if necessary to reduce pain.

Warning: Do not apply ice directly to the skin as this may damage the skin and cause frostbite.

6. Apply aloe vera gel.

Cactus It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which can be traced to its rich content of antioxidants. When applied topically to the bite site, it helps reduce underlying inflammation and thus soothe pain, itching, swelling, and erythema.

Aloe vera also acts as an antimicrobial that helps kill any germs present on the affected skin, thereby reducing the risk of infection.

Method:

• Cut open a fresh aloe vera leaf and extract the gel.
• Apply this gel to the affected area.
• Leave on for several hours, then rinse with lukewarm water.
• Use this remedy 2-3 times a day.

alternative:

• Fill an ice cube tray with aloe vera gel and place it in the freezer.
• Wrap frozen cubes in a thin towel to make a cold compress.
• Gently massage it all over the sting for immediate relief of pain and swelling.
• Repeat several times a day.

7. Try an oatmeal bath

be attributed to oatmeal Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe the irritation, itching, and swelling caused by jellyfish stings. Colloidal oatmeal is recommended, which is oats ground into a very fine powder.

Method:

• Fill a tub with warm water and add 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal (powder).
• Mix well until the oats mix well with the water.
• Soak the affected area in it for at least 30 minutes.
• Repeat two or three times a day, depending on the severity of symptoms.

8. Apply chamomile tea/essential oil.

Chamomile is full of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation caused by jellyfish stings. When applied topically, it helps reduce swelling, skin irritation, redness, and itching at the bite site.

Antioxidants in chamomile also promote skin healing.

Method:

• Refrigerate two cups of chamomile tea for one hour.
• Dip a washcloth in this iced tea, then apply it to the affected skin.
• Leave for 10 minutes before rinsing the area with clean water.
• Repeat several times a day for several days.

alternative:

• Mix 4-5 drops of chamomile essential oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut or castor oil.
• Apply this mixture to the affected area several times a day for several days.

9. Use witch hazel.

Witch hazel may help reduce the severity of a jellyfish sting. It acts as an astringent that helps reduce the toxicity of the venom and suppress the reaction.

Witch hazel also has an anti-inflammatory effect that helps relieve pain, itching and swelling caused by jellyfish stings. (12)

Method:

• Mix 2-3 drops of witch hazel in a glass of water.
• Soak a cotton swab in the solution and wipe the affected area.
• Repeat if necessary.

alternative:

Apply over-the-counter witch hazel lotion to the bite site.

10. Apply baking soda paste.

Baking soda helps to neutralize and remove toxins released by jellyfish stings. This compound is slightly alkaline and thus counteracts the acidic nature of the toxins. Poison weakens and, therefore, the reaction that it causes.

Thus, baking soda may help reduce the inflammatory symptoms associated with a jellyfish sting. In addition, it helps to change the pH of the skin to more alkaline, so that it becomes unfriendly to microbes that cause infections.

Method:

• Take a small amount of baking soda in a bowl and mix in enough water to make a thick paste.
• Apply the paste to the sting and try to reapply it every 15-20 minutes. You can gently rub this paste into your skin to get rid of venom and bites.

Symptoms associated with jellyfish stings

A jellyfish sting is always traumatic, although it usually does not require a hospital visit. In most cases, the venom does not spread far from the site of the bite, so the inflammatory response remains localized in that area.

Common symptoms of a jellyfish sting include:

• Throbbing pain that radiates from the sting and lasts for several hours.
• Burning sensation at the site of the bite, which may last for several hours.
• Itching in and around affected area
• Protrusion or red bump at the site of the bite
• A red, brown, or purple mark on the skin where the probes come into contact with the body, which may persist for 1 to 2 weeks.

More severe reactions are often characterized by the following symptoms:

• Severe pain or cramps in various parts of the body such as chest, abdomen, back and muscles
• Skin burns or blisters at bite site
• rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• shortness of breath
• Fluid in the lungs or pulmonary edema, but this is very rare.
• weakness
• Headache
• sweating
• Vomiting and nausea
• weakness
  Dizziness, confusion or fainting

An itchy rash may appear 1-4 weeks after the bite.

The following factors determine the severity of your reaction to a jellyfish sting:

Size and type of jellyfish

Your age, body size and general health (this explains why children and people with pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to have severe reactions)
Duration of exposure to stings
Total area of ​​skin affected

Treatment of jellyfish stings

Treatment for jellyfish stings depends on the severity of your reaction. It includes first aid and treatment, often using the following interventions:

• sedatives An over-the-counter pain reliever combined with topical corticosteroids or oral antihistamines to relieve inflammatory symptoms such as swelling, redness and itching.
• If you have a severe systemic reaction, you may need emergency medical attention, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a ventilator, and antivenom if you are stung by a potentially fatal species such as box jellyfish.
• If you are bitten near or in the eye, you will need immediate medical attention to relieve the pain and remove the venom from the eye.

Tips for avoiding jellyfish stings

Avoid jellyfish stings by following these tips:

• It’s always a good idea to have a lifeguard on hand when diving in coastal waters. Ask lifeguards and locals what places to avoid to reduce the risk of being stung by a jellyfish.
  Avoid coastal waters during jellyfish season to reduce the risk of being bitten.
• Jellyfish repellants are available on the market and are said to form a protective film on the skin to resist jellyfish stings. Some clinical evidence suggests that this drug contains certain compounds that may help break down stinging cells or toxins that the jellyfish’s tentacles release onto the skin. This preventive intervention is especially recommended for people at risk of developing a severe reaction if bitten, such as children or people with existing medical conditions.
• Dead jellyfish are often washed ashore, but should not be touched, as they can still release toxins and cause a reaction.
  Wear a leather/sting suit when diving in coastal waters to protect your body from jellyfish stings. You can also get bitten when wading through shallow water, so it’s also a good idea to wear safety shoes while doing so.

When will you see a doctor?

There are some types of jellyfish whose venom can cause a systemic reaction that affects the entire body and requires emergency medical attention. In addition, there are some species, such as box jellyfish, that are so venomous that their bite can kill you if not treated properly and quickly.

Consult your doctor if pain, itching and swelling persist even after initial treatment.

Get medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Trouble breathing
• Pain in the chest or abdomen
• excessive sweating

Can urine soothe a jellyfish sting?

No, there is no scientific evidence that urine can soothe a jellyfish sting. However, it can make things worse by causing bites that release more toxins and cause a more severe reaction.

Last word

Medusa stings a person very often, which is usually a traumatic but not life-threatening experience.

When you’ve been stung by a jellyfish, the first step is to remove the remnants of the stings from the skin, otherwise it will continue to cause a reaction. This is followed by simple home interventions and some over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and inflammation.

If you do not feel better, or if your symptoms worsen, see your doctor to get the treatment you need.

Jellyfish flooded the Sea of ​​Azov. How dangerous is their bite?

Society

August 19, 2020, 18:50

Freepik

Read 360tv in

Jellyfish flooded the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov, displacing even vacationers. In some places, the water has become more like a translucent jelly or jelly. The reason for this invasion was warm weather. Jellyfish do not carry a mortal danger, but they can sting badly, so you need to remember the rules for treating burns.

For several days now, vacationers on the Sea of ​​Azov have been sharing videos and photos on social networks. But the footage is not the Cote d’Azur, but hordes of jellyfish. In one of the videos, tourists are sailing on a boat, pushing the jelly-like layer with oars.

“It’s just a bummer. Some kind of jellyfish island. Stunned – kisselishche! – the girl says behind the scenes.

If in the first case the video was filmed in the middle of the sea, here the man filmed the jellyfish right on the beach. It is really scary to go into such water.

“Coast of the Sea of ​​Azov. Who wants to swim – come. But I won’t go there to swim today, because I’m afraid,” the author of the video admitted.

Some vacationers decided not to comment on the invasion, but simply took impressive photos for social networks. Because of the jellyfish, in some places you can’t even see the water.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEBal6Glr1h/

Especially brave tourists took jellyfish in their hands for more spectacular shots. The main thing is to never touch the tentacles, so as not to get a severe burn.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEEa-6wFUI6/

“Eww, what a disgusting thing,” the user reacted to the appearance of jellyfish.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEETQoeh2Nd/

The weather helped

In the summer, people go south who like to relax in hot weather. This summer they were especially lucky, as the Black and Azov Seas warmed up more than usual. Now the weather in the south can be considered comfortable, Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, told 360.

He noted that the coast had been hot for a long time, and the anticyclone contributed to the warming of the water surface. The Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov became especially warm, since it is rather shallow.

“Temperature increase is one of the components that contributes to the appearance of plankton and jellyfish. Of course, there are still a number of biological processes going on. The temperature of air and water in the coming days in the Azov and Black Seas will be in the range from +24 to +26 degrees. The weather is quite sunny,” Vilfand emphasized.

Traditionally, jellyfish appear in the Sea of ​​Azov in late August or early September. But this year there were a lot of them off the coast. So far, the weather situation is not expected to change, so the jellyfish will retreat only with a powerful cyclone and rough seas.

Sting or not?

In total, two types of jellyfish can be seen in the Sea of ​​Azov: Cornerot or Aurelia. The latter is also called the eared jellyfish.

“When they talk about the Sea of ​​Azov, then there is an invasion of the cornerot. These are large jellyfish. Previously, in the Sevastopol region, there were sometimes individual individuals up to 25-30 kilograms. Cold-water aurelia jellyfish do not have any burning stinging cells as such,” Boris Aninsky, senior researcher at the Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry at the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, explained to 360.

He added that Cornerots just have these most burning stinging cells. They react to pure protein, so vacationers should not, for example, rub their eyes.

“She’s still a moderately biting jellyfish. Not as poisonous as some tropical species,” the specialist assured.

Cornerots can withstand water temperatures up to +28 degrees, so now they are comfortable on the coast. In addition, the salinity of the Sea of ​​Azov has increased. If earlier it was at the level of 10-11 ppm, now it has reached 14 ppm. This was due to reduced freshwater flow and lack of rainfall.

“Conditions have formed that are favorable for the conservation of the population and reproduction of jellyfish. <...> The conditions there are excellent in terms of food, in terms of temperature and salinity, too – why shouldn’t jellyfish develop? There are all conditions for this,” concluded Aninsky.

Why is a jellyfish sting dangerous?

Immunologist-allergist Vladimir Bolibok explained to “360” that the results of a jellyfish sting can be divided into two groups: local burns and systemic consequences.

The most dangerous systemic effects. This may be the appearance of chills, headache, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure. As a result, there may even be anaphylactic shock. If a person begins to experience these symptoms after a bite, then you just need to immediately call the doctors

Vladimir Bolibok

The specialist added that general reactions can develop quickly and lead to a sad outcome. That is why it is necessary to seek help from a doctor. According to Bolibok, most often such reactions occur to the bites of more poisonous jellyfish found in tropical countries. Jellyfish in the Sea of ​​Azov do not cause such serious consequences. But if a person has experienced anaphylactic reactions, then he can develop anaphylaxis even if he is bitten by an ordinary jellyfish.

How to treat?

The first step after a jellyfish sting is to rinse – without rubbing – the burn with salt water or soda, if possible.

“Soda and warm sea water wash out this poison. The only thing you need to understand is that the sting of a jellyfish is not like that of a bee. One stinging cell is one sting, and there are thousands of stinging cells on the tentacles of a jellyfish.