June 1999

Vol. 14, No. 6     What's this?

Jellyfish Sting

from the June, 1999 issue of Undercurrent  

A jelly fish sting isn’t fun. Here’s the latest on treating them from a paper delivered to the American Academy of Dermatology’s 57th Annual Meeting by Mark J. Scharf, M.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School:

Before removing the jellyfish’s tentacles, either vinegar, baking soda, or meat tenderizer should be used to disarm the nematocysts (stinging capsules) that inject the poison or the venom. If these are not available, use seawater to rinse off the tentacles. Fresh water, alcohol, ammonia, or bleach should never be applied to a jellyfish sting because these cause the nematocysts to discharge their venom.

After disarming the nematocysts, carefully remove the clinging tentacles of the jellyfish. An ulcerated or open jellyfish wound should be cleaned and an antibiotic ointment applied. Analgesics, ice packs, and topical anesthetics can relieve acute pain. If you experience systemic symptoms or a severe allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care.