Idiomes

www.blanes.cat

Camí de tornada

Recomendations on treatment of Mediterranean jellyfish envenomation

Protecció Civil
Servei de Vigilància Salvament i Socorrisme

MED-JELLYRISK
JELLYFISH ENVENOMATION

Recommendations on treatment
of Mediterranean jellyfish envenomations
(after Cegolon et al. 2013. “Jellyfish sting and their management: a review”. Marine Drugs).

Generalities
Some jellyfish species may sting humans, determining local reactions and occasional systemic effects. Treatment of jellyfish envenomation aims to attenuate venom effects, prevent further envenomation from residual jellyfish pieces, and keep in check occasional systemic reactions, including shock.
Depending on the jellyfish species, there is evidence and consensus on oral/topical analgesics, hot water and ice packs as effective painkillers. For a few species (see below), a short application of domestic vinegar may prevent further discharge of unfired jellyfish stinging cells left on the skin.
Most treatment approaches are presently founded on relatively weak evidence and further research is strongly recommended. Dissemination of appropriate treatment modalities is deployed in the framework of MED-JELLYRISK to better inform and educate those at risk. Adequate signage will be placed at beaches to notify beach goers of the jellyfish risk.
WARNING: seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.
.

JELLYFISH-SPECIFIC
ENVENOMATION
TREATMENT PROCEDURES

I. The mauve stinger

Pelagia noctiluca
This is the most common stinger jellyfish in the Western and Central Mediterranean. It can be very common also in the Aegean, Ionian and Adriatic seas.
WARNING: DO NOT APPLY FRESHWATER, NO VINEGAR, NO PRESSURE BANDAGE, NO ALCOHOL. Seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

	. . 1) CAREFULLY WASH WITH SEAWATER, DO NOT RUB.
	. 2) IF AVAILABLE, APPLY FOR FIVE MINUTES A BAKING SODA SLURRY (50% commercial baking soda; 50% seawater) to prevent further envenomation from attached tentacles.
	. 3) USE A PLASTIC CARD TO REMOVE RESIDUALS OF TENTACLES
	4) APPLY ICE PACKS (wrapped in a cloth or thin towel, not directly on the skin) for 5-25 minutes - Warn victim that ice pack may be uncomfortable at first! 5) REASSESS PAIN AND REAPPLY ICE PACKS IF NECESSARY
	. 6) IF PAINS PERSISTS, CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - Ask for analgesic + hydrocortisone preparations (eg. lidocaine 3-4% + hydrocortisone).

.

II. The compass jellyfish

Chrysaora hysoscella
Belonging to the same family of Pelagi noctiluca, this is a less common but similary painful stinger fellyfish, usually found in spring. White-yellowish umbrella, with 16 brown bands on the surface.
WARNING: DO NOT APPLY FRESHWATER, NO VINEGAR, NO PRESSURE BANDAGE, NO ALCOHOL. Seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

	. . 1) CAREFULLY WASH WITH SEAWATER, DO NOT RUB.
	. 2) IF AVAILABLE, APPLY FOR FIVE MINUTES A BAKING SODA SLURRY (50% commercial baking soda; 50% seawater) to prevent further envenomation from attached tentacles.
	. 3) USE A PLASTIC CARD TO REMOVE RESIDUALS OF TENTACLES
	4) APPLY ICE PACKS (wrapped in a cloth or thin towel, not directly on the skin) for 5-25 minutes - Warn victim that ice pack may be uncomfortable at first! 5) REASSESS PAIN AND REAPPLY ICE PACKS IF NECESSARY
	. 6) IF PAINS PERSISTS, CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - Ask for analgesic + hydrocortisone preparations (eg. lidocaine 3-4% + hydrocortisone).

.

III. The box jellyfish

Carybdea marsupialis
A small painful jellyfish (few cm in diameter) usually found in summer. Cube-shapped umbrella with 4 long tentacles. Transparent, bluish or whitish colour. It Inhabits very shallow waters.
WARNING: DO NOT APPLY FRESHWATER, NO PRESSURE BANDAGE, NO ALCOHOL. Seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

	. . 1) CAREFULLY WASH WITH SEAWATER, DO NOT RUB. 2) WASH WITH COMMERCIAL VINEGAR.
	. 3) USE A PLASTIC CARD TO REMOVE RESIDUALS OF TENTACLES.
	. 4) APPLY HOT PACKS OR HOT WATER IMMERSION (40-45 ºC) 5-15 MINUTES. 5) REASSESS PAIN AND REAPPLY HOT PACKS IF NECESSARY.
	. 6) IF PAINS PERSISTS, CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - Ask for analgesic + hydrocortisone preparations (eg. lidocaine 3-4% + hydrocortisone).

.

IV. The cigar jellyfish

Olindias phosphorica
Small dome-shaped (up to 6 cm diameter), possessing distinctive red cross radial canals. Common in summer and autum.
WARNING: DO NOT APPLY FRESHWATER, NO PRESSURE BANDAGE, NO ALCOHOL. Seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

	. . 1) WASH WITH COMMERCIAL VINEGAR (4-6% acetic acid) – OTHERWISE, WASH WITH SEAWATER, DO NOT RUB.
	. 2) USE A PLASTIC CARD TO REMOVE RESIDUALS OF TENTACLES.
	3) APPLY ICE PACKS (wrapped in a cloth or thin towel, not directly on the skin) for 5-25 minutes - Warn victim that ice pack may be uncomfortable at first! 4) REASSESS PAIN AND REAPPLY ICE PACKS IF NECESSARY
	. 5) IF PAINS PERSISTS, CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - Ask for analgesic + hydrocortisone preparations (eg. lidocaine 3-4% + hydrocortisone).

.

V. The Portuguese man-of-war

Physalia physalis
Medusa flotant amb una càmara flotant plena de gas, i tentacles extremadament llargs (fins a 20-30 metres) estesos sota el flotador. Rarament es pot trobar a la primavera o a l’estiu. La seva picada és molt dolorosa.
WARNING: DO NOT APPLY FRESHWATER, NO VINEGAR, NO PRESSURE BANDAGE, NO ALCOHOL. Seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

	.. 1) CAREFULLY WASH WITH SEAWATER, DO NOT RUB.
	. 2) USE A PLASTIC CARD TO REMOVE RESIDUALS OF TENTACLES.
	. 3) APPLY HOT PACKS OR HOT WATER IMMERSION (40-45 ºC) 10-20 MINUTES. 4) REASSESS PAIN AND REAPPLY HOT PACKS IF NECESSARY.
	. 5) IF PAINS PERSISTS, CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - Ask for analgesic + hydrocortisone preparations (eg. lidocaine 3-4% + hydrocortisone).

VI. Acalefo azul, Aguamala

Rhizostoma pulmo
Rhizostoma pulmo is one of the most abundant scyphomedusae along the Mediterranean coasts. To understand changes in the population densities of the medusa stage and its relationship with the benthic stage, we describe all developmental stages from the life cycle of R. pulmo, from the scyphistoma stage to young medusae reared in the laboratory. Mature scyphistomae showed a mean total body length of 1.7 mm and the average tentacle number was 16. Asexual reproduction occurred by lateral budding, podocyst and pedalocyst production. Each strobila released up to 8 ephyrae that had a mean total body diameter of 3.5 mm. Moreover, we also present data on the temporal and spatial distribution of the species in the Catalan Sea and the coastal lagoon on Mar Menor (NW Mediterranean) during the years 2007-2009. In the Catalan Sea, the presence of adult R. pulmo was recorded as extended along the whole coast, but most of the observation was concentrated in the central area; the highest abundances were recorded during the months of July and August. The highest number of observations was detected in 2008 in coincidence with the inter-annual variation observed in the Mar Menor lagoon.
WARNING: DO NOT APPLY FRESHWATER, NO VINEGAR, NO PRESSURE BANDAGE, NO ALCOHOL. Seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

	.. .. 1) CAREFULLY WASH WITH SEAWATER, DO NOT RUB.
	.. .. 2) IF AVAILABLE, APPLY FOR FIVE MINUTES A BAKING SODA SLURRY (50% commercial baking soda; 50% seawater) to prevent further envenomation from attached tentacles.
	.. .. 3) USE A PLASTIC CARD TO REMOVE RESIDUALS OF TENTACLES.
	... 4) APPLY ICE PACKS (wrapped in a cloth or thin towel, not directly on the skin) for 5-15 minutes - Warn victim that ice pack may be uncomfortable at first! 5) REASSESS PAIN AND REAPPLY ICE PACKS IF NECESSARY
	. 6) IF PAINS PERSISTS, CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - Ask for analgesic + hydrocortisone preparations (eg. lidocaine 3-4% + hydrocortisone).

VII. Fried egg jellyfish

Cotylorhiza tuberculata
Cotylorhiza tuberculata is a species of jellyfish, also known as the Mediterranean jelly or fried egg jellyfish. It is commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea and Adriatic Sea. It can reach 35 cm in diameter. It seems that this jellyfish's sting has very little or no effect on humans.
C. tuberculata is usually less than 17 cm wide. The smooth, elevated dome is surrounded by a gutter-like ring. The marginal lappets are elongated and subrectangular. Each mouth-arm bifurcates near its base and branches several times. In addition to some larger appendages there are many short, clu

Idiomes

www.blanes.cat

Recomendations on treatment of Mediterranean jellyfish envenomation

Camí de tornada

Menú principal

Recomendations on treatment of Mediterranean jellyfish envenomation