These tips for the treatment of a jellyfish sting are taken from the Brevard County (Florida) Fire Rescue/Ocean Lifeguard Swim Safety website page: “Rinse the wound with sea water. If you do visit your doctor, he or she will be able to diagnose your injury by looking at it. Certain box jellyfish stings can kill a person within minutes. However, if you or another person has been stung by a jellyfish and starts to develop severe side effects, you will want to visit the emergency center (or, if unavailable, an urgent care center) and see a doctor immediately. While most jellyfish stings are harmless, they can still be painful. However, each creature is actually a colony of four organisms. Cannonball jellyfish have a minor sting. Soak the skin in hot water. Your doctor may collect samples of the stingers. Box jellyfish are also found in Indonesia, Thailand, parts of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. This is a very common jellyfish in the gulf of mexico, and sting treatment should have a place here! The following tips can help you avoid jellyfish stings: 1. Rinse the area with vinegar for at least 30 seconds. The side effects of a severe reaction include: Once again, if you experience any of these symptoms or side effects, call 911 if necessary and seek medical advice from a doctor immediately. 2017;35:321. Rinsing the area with fresh water or saltwater may further aggravate the sting as well, so hold off on that until after you've removed the barbs. Keep the affected skin immersed or in a hot shower for 20 to 45 minutes. Jellyfish and the Portuguese man-of-war can deliver painful and potentially life-threatening stings. "An established Australian spotted jellyfish population occurs in waters east of the Mississippi River in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Shop All. If you've ever been stung by a jellyfish, you'll know when its happened based off the initial rash-like feeling. Talk to lifeguard… https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Yanagihara AA, et al. Does it Sting? (MORE: Australian Beaches Closed After 'Epidemic' of Bluebottle Jellyfish Stings) Portuguese man-of-war are often mistaken for jellyfish. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic Minute: What to do if you are stung by a jellyfish, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter. https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/Jellyfish_Stings. Get your swim suit off and get it in the dryer to kill off all those larva, pronto. 2017; 9:104. The best thing to do is to rinse the area with vinegar, which is a weak acid and helps keep the stingers from firing. Portuguese Man o' War can deliver an excruciatingly painful sting courtesy of their tentacles that can be 30-100 feet long! The Gulf of Mexico is home to certain species of Jellyfish. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. While you're not likely to get stung often, it's always better to be prepared! This will help decrease the burning sensation from the sting. Jellyfish stings. It's important to be careful, however. These could be signs of a more serious sting, or an allergic reaction. Accessed Sept. 18, 2017. Doing so will help prevent the barbs from releasing more venom. DO NOT use fresh water. This, however, should only be used as a last-ditch effort. They will not move, and instead, they will release more venom, causing more pain to your injury. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Next, move on with life, and maybe no more ocean swimming until the next day, to avoid getting more stings. An interesting cure, using a meat tenderizer can help as a sting treatment method. Marcus EN, et al. When swimming or diving in areas where jellyfish stings are possible, wear a wet suit or other protective clothing. Avoid using your hands to rinse off or scrape the sting, as rubbing or touching the barbs can cause more pain. Also known as the cabbage head jellyfish, this jellyfish is a … Plus, you'll want to make sure you're nowhere near the jelly that stung you. Unfortunately, these sea creatures can often be pretty tiny - certainly small enough to be easily missed while walking around on the beach, so it's important to be careful to keep an eye out for them at all times. Li L, et al. " # For jellyfish stings, soak or rinse the area in vinegar (acetic acid) for 15-30 minutes to stop the nematocysts from releasing their toxins. 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