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Jellyfish

First aid for most jellyfish stings is to pour large amounts of vinegar over the affected area. This prevents any ...

Jellyfish

First aid for most jellyfish stings is to pour large amounts of vinegar over the affected area. This prevents any undischarged nematocysts (stinging cells) on the tentacles from firing more venom into the victim. Vinegar does not decrease pain or diminish the effects of the venom. Vinegar is not recommended for bluebottle (Portuguese man-o'-war) stings and may have little effect on irukandji stings. Bluebottle, irukandji, box jellyfish and Chiropsalmus quadrigata, stings have specific treatments recommended.

Irukandji

 First aid for irukandji stings consists of analgesia and reassurance.

A number of related jellyfish can cause Irukandji syndrome. Carukia barnesi, however, is the jellyfish conclusively known to do so. Irukandji is a small (~2 cm diameter bell) jellyfish responsible for an unusual and dramatic syndrome observed most commonly in North Queensland, and stings have been recorded from Bundaberg in Queensland to Broome in Western Australia.

Box Jellyfish

First aid for box jellyfish stings consists of vinegar, removal of tentaclular material and analgesia.

Bluebottle

First aid for bluebottle stings consists of analgesia. Immersion of the site in hot water may ameliorate pain.

No fatalities from this animal have been confirmed in Australia. The venom contains lethal and haemolytic components and has been shown to produce nerve conduction disturbances, flaccid paralysis and smooth muscle contraction in experimental animals.

Venom and Antivenom

Find out here how antivenom is made and how it works, and find out about the nature of venom and its effects.