About Jellyfish Stings
Jellyfish stings can be one of the most incredibly painful stings anyone will ever feel. The degree of discomfort depends upon the particular species of jellyfish.
Significance
The sting from a jellyfish can range from being little more than a nuisance to causing death. Although scientists estimate that there may be in excess of 1,000 different species, only 350 species of jellyfish have been identified. The good news is that just 10 percent of the known species actually sting.
Features
The symptoms of a jellyfish sting include the obvious pain that can feel like the sting of several wasps at once. Following the initial pain, there may be such symptoms as itching, the development of a rash and large welts. Depending on the species of jellyfish and the intensity of the sting, symptoms that may develop later can include nausea and vomiting, cramps, numbness, muscle spasms and even diarrhea. If the sting is severe enough, coma may result. The most venomous species can actually bypass most of these symptoms and cause death in just a matter of minutes.
Warning
The severity of a jellyfish sting can be defined by the symptoms. If any of the following symptoms are experienced the victim should immediately contact a physician or be taken to the emergency room. Severe symptoms include having difficulty breathing, chest pain, and a pain that increases rather than lessens. If the victim is very young, elderly, or in generally poor health, consider getting them to a doctor. A physician should probably also be consulted if the sting itself took place on the face.
Prevention/Solution
Preventing a jellyfish sting beats treating it after the fact, so begin by avoiding areas of the water where jellyfish are numerous. If you absolutely must swim in areas infested by jellyfish, find out what species they are and how severe a potential sting might be. When swimming in areas with a high jellyfish population wear as much protective gear as possible, including a wet suit, mask, gloves and flippers. Another valuable piece of advice is to resist touching jellyfish, even dead ones. A dead jellyfish still retains the capacity to sting.
Prevention/Solution
The treatment of jellyfish stings today can come in a prepackaged medical gel. The same principle can be applied using a tried and tested approach that involves rinsing the affected part of the body in vinegar; this has the effect of halting the release of toxins into the body from most species of jellyfish. Rinsing directly in the salt water can also help relieve the pain, but do not apply fresh water to a jellyfish sting as this will facilitate the release of toxins.
Prevention/Solution
If possible try not to touch jellyfish tentacles when attempting to remove it. Ideally, you should wear gloves or use tweezers to remove a jellyfish tentacle, although obviously this is not always practical. If the sting occurs inside the mouth, create a solution of one part vinegar mixed with three parts water and gargle. Do not swallow this mixture, but rather gargle and spit.
Prevention/Solution
The most ideal treatment for jellyfish stings without the use of medicine is to create a paste using baking soda and salt water. Mix it until it gets thick and sticky, and apply it to the area of the skin which the jellyfish stung. Allow the paste to harden and then slowly peel it back. While there may be some discomfort from the peeling ripping out some of your hair, the ultimate effect is that it also peels away the damaged skin cells.
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