What does a jellyfish burn look like?

Medical expert article

The tentacles extending from the hemispherical body of the jellyfish contain paralyzing poison. All jellyfish are poisonous to a greater or lesser extent; Portuguese ships are considered one of the most dangerous. A jellyfish burn is quite painful. It must be remembered that they can sting not only in water, so you should also not touch jellyfish washed up on the seashore by the waves.

[1], [2], [3]

ICD-10 code

Pathogenesis

The body of many jellyfish contains nematicides (stinging cells) that produce poison, which they require for food and protection. They also contain nematocysts (small intracellular structures) - this is a capsule, inside of which there is a hollow thread twisted into a spiral. Touching a jellyfish causes an instant reaction - it releases, through its stinging cells, a poison that has a nerve-paralytic effect and is injected into the body. Cells with poison remain on the skin even after the tentacles have been separated, continuing to affect it - as a result, the person experiences severe pain, which can develop into painful shock.

[4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]

Symptoms of a jellyfish burn

The first sign of a jellyfish sting is severe pain, which can even exceed the pain from the sting of several wasps. Further, a jellyfish burn can manifest itself in the form of a skin rash, itching, and large scars. Further symptoms depend on the intensity of the burn, as well as the type of jellyfish that stung. Among these manifestations:

1. Vomiting with nausea;
2. Muscle spasms and cramps;
3. Diarrhea;
4. Numbness of the body.

[12]

Complications and consequences

A jellyfish sting can cause anaphylactic shock. Other complications may include the following symptoms:

1. The appearance of red spots on the skin;
2. Feeling of anxiety;
3. Swollen neck, tongue and face, as well as swelling in the area around the eyes;
4. Hoarseness of voice;
5. Breathing problems;
6. Increased heart rate.

[13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20]

Who to contact?

Treatment of jellyfish burn

What to do if you are burned by a jellyfish? First aid

If a jellyfish burn has been sustained, it is necessary to immediately provide first aid to the victim, which consists of the following priority measures:

1. Pour plenty of water over the part of the body that was bitten to wash away the remnants of the tentacles and the toxic substance on the skin;
2. Apply ice to the inflamed skin to reduce the severity of pain;
3. Immediately seek help from specialists so that the victim is provided with qualified medical care using the necessary means and medications in such cases;
4. It is also necessary to monitor the victim’s breathing and heartbeat, since in some cases the result of a jellyfish sting can be a painful shock or a severe allergic reaction.

What to do in case of a jellyfish burn?

Initially, you need to immediately get out of the sea. Since most jellyfish are not so poisonous as to pose a danger to human life, you can relieve the victim of unpleasant sensations immediately on the shore by treating the area of ​​skin with a burn. It should be borne in mind that some categories of people may experience a more serious reaction (painful shock) to a bite - this applies to the elderly, children, allergy sufferers, and also those who have diseases of the respiratory or cardiovascular systems.

When the victim comes out of the water, you need to rinse (it should only be salt water or a soda solution, but not fresh water, because under its influence the nematicides are activated, on the contrary) and clean the area of ​​the skin that was attacked by the jellyfish - remove the remnants of the tentacles from it. At the same time, you need to remember that you cannot touch the wound with your bare hands - this will cause another burn. Therefore, you should use cotton swabs or napkins for cleaning.

If you have a first aid kit with ammonia (alcohol or apple cider vinegar can be used instead), it is recommended to treat the burn site with a lotion - this method allows you to remove toxins from damaged skin. Fresh human urine can reduce the effects of a jellyfish sting.

The victim is also advised to drink more.

After the patient has been provided with all the necessary first aid, he should be taken to a doctor to prevent the risk of developing undesirable consequences. This is a mandatory procedure, because there are very dangerous types of jellyfish, the bite of which can cause serious consequences or allergies.

It should also be noted what not to do if you get a jellyfish burn:

1. Treat the bite site with any oils or fatty cream;
2. Disinfect the inflamed area using solutions containing alcohol, as well as brilliant green or iodine;
3. Scratching, rubbing and generally touching the burned area should not irritate the damaged skin.

Further treatment of a jellyfish burn

The bite site must be treated with medication to reduce the effects of the poison. To do this, you need to use medications aimed at eliminating itching and inflammation. Hydrocortisone cream effectively relieves swelling, and medications that treat insect bites relieve itching. Among these medications are anti-inflammatory and antihistamines: Fenistil, Psilobalm, and Aloe Vera.

Medicines

Fenistil is used in case of itching of the skin (itching can have a different nature, except that caused by cholestasis), for example, in the case of insect bites. Contraindicated in the following situations: with high sensitivity to the substance dimethindene or other components of the drug, prostate hyperplasia, angle-closure glaucoma; children under 1 month (especially premature babies). Prescribe with caution in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding.

The drug is used externally - 2-4 times a day. lubricate the damaged area. If a large area of ​​skin is affected or the itching is very severe, oral forms of the drug should be used together with the gel.

Side effects of Fenistil include burning and dry skin. Sometimes itching and rash may occur.

Hydrocortisone ointment is used to treat skin diseases - atopic, simple and allergic dermatitis, eczema, pruritus, photodermatosis, erythroderma, as well as insect bites.

The ointment is contraindicated in the following cases: with high sensitivity to the elements of the drug, fungal, bacterial and viral skin diseases (such as mycosis and pyoderma), skin tuberculosis, perioral dermatitis, wounds or ulcers, tumors on the skin, cutaneous syphilis, in the post-vaccination period, as well as children under 2 years of age. Prescribed with caution for diabetes mellitus, in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as in the case of systemic tuberculosis.

The use of hydrocortisone ointment is to apply a thin layer of the drug to the inflamed skin for a maximum of 3-4 times per day. The treatment course lasts for 1-3 weeks. In 1 week you can use no more than 30-60 g of ointment.

Among the side effects of the drug: the appearance of a rash on the skin. In case of long-term use (especially when using hermetic dressings or applying to a large area of ​​skin), systemic adverse reactions may occur.

Traditional treatment

There are several methods of folk treatment for jellyfish stings.

The site of a jellyfish bite can be treated with a solution of salt, soda or ammonia (weak), and then apply a piece of ice, previously wrapped in a clean cloth, to it.

Take 1 part salt, 4 parts flour and add water to them (until a paste forms). Apply the resulting mixture to the burned areas as generously as possible. Apply a bandage on top. Within an hour, the pain and itching will subside. Since it is quite difficult to remove such pulp from the skin (during this period of time it dries out), you should first soak it.

Rings of tomato or lemon work well against inflammation - you need to tightly cover the damaged area of ​​​​the skin with them.

Aloe can reduce the degree of skin damage (under the influence of this medicinal plant, the process of swelling of blisters stops). It needs to be cut, applied to the wound, and then bandaged.

Egg white is also considered a good folk method - it needs to be beaten and then applied to the burn site.

Sea buckthorn oil and goose fat effectively eliminate burns.

Another high-quality remedy is carrots, as they contain a lot of provitamin A. You should grate the carrots, and then apply the resulting gruel to the burned areas of the skin.

[21], [22], [23], [24], [25]

Homeopathy

In case of a jellyfish burn, the victim should be given 1 granule of homeopathic medicine Medusa 30 C as soon as possible. The further use of the drug should be discussed with a homeopath, because individual treatment is prescribed for each case, which depends on the age of the victim, the severity of the burn and other factors. Therefore, you will need to consult a specialist.

To treat a jellyfish sting, use homeopathic Calendula gel - you need to lubricate the affected area several times a day, allowing the medicine to be absorbed into the skin.

When going on vacation to the sea, we try to escape from the daily routine and problems, we relax too much and forget about the dangers that await us.

While in the water, it is important not only to stay on the surface, but also to try to avoid unpleasant encounters with marine life. And as it turns out, sharks are far from the most dangerous neighborhood.

Some statistics: over the past 25 years, 13 people have died from shark attacks off the coast of Australia, and 60 people have died from the “bite” of the poisonous Sea Wasp jellyfish.

Jellyfish burn: what is the danger

Jellyfish, which seem harmless at first glance, are actually quite dangerous: their “jelly-like” appearance often misleads children and untrained adults.

The body of most jellyfish contains hidden so-called stinging cells (nematocytes), which contain poison. With their help, these underwater inhabitants not only perfectly protect themselves (which is used by other deep-sea inhabitants: for example, the cornet jellyfish is often accompanied by schools of small fish that do not want to feed on predatory fish), but also obtain food for themselves.

Upon contact with a jellyfish, the intracellular structures contained in nematocytes “shoot” at the victim, cling to it and inject poison, which has a nerve-paralytic effect.

At the same time, you should beware not only of jellyfish that swim in the water, but also those thrown ashore (they can retain their “scalding” properties for another 3 days), as well as their separated tentacles.

The tentacles are practically invisible to the naked eye, and when the poisonous “threads” get on the skin, they leave severe and painful burns.

What is the danger of a jellyfish sting?

Jellyfish burn: what to do

It should be remembered that when receiving this type of injury, not only the burn itself is harmful, but also the effect of the poison on the body. People may have different reactions to contact with a jellyfish.

The degree of damage to the skin depends on what type of jellyfish you encounter and what part of the body is affected.

The most painful lesions are in sensitive areas of the skin: groin area, neck, face, feet, hands. Burns from jellyfish to mucous membranes - eyes, larynx (for example, if a careless swimmer swallows a jellyfish) pose a serious danger.

What do jellyfish burns look like: symptoms, consequences

Of course, it is best to avoid contact with any variety of jellyfish. However, you are never immune from accidents. Therefore, it is better to be able to distinguish dangerous coelenterates from completely harmless ones.

1. Cyanea. A relatively safe jellyfish, it is difficult not to notice it - it reaches a diameter of 2 m. You can meet Cyanea in the seas of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans; In addition to its large size, it is externally distinguished by its bright color - purple, blue, less often orange or yellow.

Burns from Cyanea are quite extensive (due to its large size), and redness and even blisters may appear on severely affected areas of the skin.

1. Cornerot - this previously mentioned variety of jellyfish is found in the Black and Baltic Seas. It has a transparent body with blue or purple veined lines. Cornerot differs from other jellyfish in the absence of tentacles. But don’t rush to rejoice: Kornerot’s poisonous stinging cells are located all over the body.

After a burn, the skin may become inflamed, irritated, and blistered. There were no cases of death among the victims.

1. The cross jellyfish is an easily distinguishable species of jellyfish. It got its name because of its appearance: the body of the jellyfish itself is transparent, but there is a cross on the top of the umbrella. The Cross is found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Her burns can hardly be called pleasant: symptoms include skin damage, painful sensations in the joints, difficulty breathing, and coughing. The victim should immediately consult a doctor.
2. The sea wasp is a very dangerous jellyfish from the order of box jellyfish. It prefers waters off Northern Australia and Oceania, has a square body and enough poison to kill fifty people.
3. The Irukandji jellyfish is very poisonous, its diameter is only 1-2 cm, and it has 4 thirty-centimeter tentacles containing poison.
4. The Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish is easily recognized by its peculiar crest, reminiscent of the sails of a ship. A Ship burn leads to severe pain, suffocation, convulsions, and can provoke a heart attack.

Severe jellyfish burns may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Nausea and vomiting
2. Convulsions
3. Diarrhea
4. Feeling weak
5. Numbness of the limbs
6. Pain shock

In all these cases, as well as if a wound and bleeding occurs at the burn site, the victim should be given first aid and immediately consult a doctor.

What to do if you are burned by a jellyfish?

First aid for a jellyfish burn

1. First of all, it is necessary to go ashore as soon as possible: a burn from a jellyfish is not only painful, but can cause allergies, provoke a heart attack, and paralysis of the affected limb. In all these cases, it is better to be out of the water: away from the depths and jellyfish.
2. Next, you should immediately get rid of the poisonous tentacles remaining on the skin. Under no circumstances do this with your bare hands! The affected area should not be combed or wiped with plain water - this will only disperse the poison more strongly and increase the area of ​​the burn.

It is best to “scrape off” the remnants of nematocytes - use a nail file, a knife (should be passed along the skin with the “blunt” side), if you have it at hand, then a razor will do.

1. A saline or soda solution will help neutralize the effect of the poison and dull the pain from a jellyfish burn. As a last resort, salty sea water. After that, a compress with ammonia or apple cider vinegar should be applied to the affected area - this will reduce the effect of toxins.
2. The cold will help a lot. Apply an ice pack to the burn site, after wrapping it in a cloth, to avoid skin irritation or frostbite.

How to treat jellyfish burns

After neutralizing the poison, it is necessary to treat inflammation and eliminate itching. The ideal option is the La-Cri restorative cream, which reduces itching and irritation, relieves redness and perfectly moisturizes the skin.

Its complex composition based on natural components allows it to simultaneously act on all manifestations of a burn:

1. Seed extract copes well with skin redness.
2. Bisabolol has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Panthenol and avocado oil promote rapid regeneration.
4. Walnut extract has a healing effect.

How long does a jellyfish sting last?

With proper treatment, the burn will disappear in about a week and a half. If you use La-Cri cream twice a day, all skin lesions will go away even faster.

How to treat a jellyfish burn?

Remedies for jellyfish burns

In addition to ointment for a jellyfish burn, additional therapy may be needed. We recommend that you first consult with your doctor to prescribe the appropriate treatment for a jellyfish sting.

Hydrocortisone gel or cream is suitable to reduce swelling. If you experience severe pain, it is better not to endure it, but to take painkillers.

If the burn is accompanied by swelling, shortness of breath, dizziness, and coughing, it may be an allergic reaction. In this case, you will need to prescribe antihistamines.

Panthenol can be used to treat mild burns and sunburn-like redness. If a wound has formed at the site of the lesion and dirt has gotten into it, you should think about a tetanus injection.

Jellyfish burns: what NOT to do

You should also know what not to do, so as not to aggravate the condition of the victim of a jellyfish sting.

1. It is forbidden to lubricate the affected area with oils and lotions - the oil environment will increase the local temperature of the skin, which is bad in the case of a burn.
2. You should not disinfect already irritated skin with alcohol.
3. Do not scratch, rub, or massage the burn site so as not to cause the spread of poison.
4. Do not use iodine and brilliant green to treat the wound - these solutions are too aggressive for sensitive, irritated skin.

Remember that a jellyfish burn sometimes manifests itself after some time, when external symptoms have already subsided - and the consequences can be very different.

Therefore, it is better to avoid contact with jellyfish: carefully monitor children playing in the water, explain to them about the possible danger. If you are burned, seek medical attention

Jellyfish, often found on sea coasts, can cause a lot of trouble for vacationers, namely causing burns. A burn from a jellyfish, which occurs during tactile contact with this representative of the aquatic world, is not only accompanied by physical discomfort and damage to the skin, but also causes disruption of the functioning of internal organs and can be hazardous to health. It is best to avoid contact with these marine creatures. But if this fails, it is important to know what to do if you receive a burn: how to provide first aid and how to treat the injury.

What is the danger

The body and tentacles of the jellyfish are covered with stinging cells that produce a paralyzing poisonous substance. Inside these cells there are capsules with threads twisted into a spiral. With their help, jellyfish hunt and get food. When a jellyfish touches prey or an enemy, threads are released from the stinging cells, with the help of which a poisonous, burning substance is injected into the victim.

Upon contact with a jellyfish, a person immediately gets burned, and the toxic substance that gets into the skin harms the entire body. Some species of coelenterates are especially dangerous. For example, after being bitten by a Sea Wasp (found off the coast of Australia), a person dies from its poison within three minutes. Other representatives are no less dangerous:

1. Physalia (causes respiratory paralysis);
2. Cross (the bite is accompanied by unbearable burning pain, loss of coordination);
3. Irukandji (provokes vomiting, paralysis);
4. Cyanea (the bite is accompanied by a strong burning sensation, swelling of the mucous membranes occurs, and the temperature rises).

On the Black Sea coast you can encounter the Cornerot and Aurelia jellyfish. The first type is considered more dangerous, although this jellyfish has no tentacles and stinging cells are located throughout the body. Aurelia rarely stings, and after its bite only local symptoms occur - burning, redness, swelling.

The seasonal activity of these animals depends on the month and water temperature, most often they can be found in July and August. Jellyfish are dangerous not only in the sea: on land they retain the ability to sting for up to 3-4 hours.

Symptoms

Even a light touch of a jellyfish to the human body causes all the symptoms of a burn: pain and burning, swelling, redness of the skin. After prolonged contact, symptoms become more pronounced. Noted:

1. severe burning, pain:
2. skin rash;
3. itching in the area of ​​injury;
4. the appearance of large scars on the skin;
5. headache;
6. nausea;
7. temperature increase;
8. general weakness and malaise, fainting.

The main signs of a burn usually appear after 4-5 minutes and gradually increase. In addition to local symptoms, other severe disorders may occur with a jellyfish burn:

1. an allergic reaction to a toxic substance, manifested by severe swelling and pain of the burn area, rash, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing;
2. the appearance of large blisters on the skin and incessant vomiting (if a large area is affected after contact with a large jellyfish);
3. numbness of the burn area or the entire body, paralysis;
4. anaphylactic shock, accompanied by swelling of the tongue and mucous membranes of the throat, larynx, oral cavity, a sharp decrease in pressure, blurred vision, increased heart rate, spontaneous urination, and convulsions.

Anaphylactic shock can be fatal in the absence of timely medical care.

Symptoms of burns may also differ in severity of damage:

1. minor damage is manifested by slight redness and swelling of the skin;
2. more serious damage is accompanied by the appearance of blisters on the skin;
3. the bite of a poisonous jellyfish leads to severe local and general symptoms, the victim may lose consciousness.

The severity of the burn depends on the type and size of the jellyfish that caused the damage. The individual susceptibility of the body is also significant. A more severe reaction to a jellyfish sting is usually observed in children, the elderly and those who suffer from allergies, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Minor burns with proper treatment will heal in 1-2 weeks; more serious injuries will have to be treated for about 3 weeks.

First aid

Correct and timely first aid for a jellyfish burn can significantly alleviate the victim’s condition and further treatment. To provide emergency assistance you must:

1. help the victim go ashore;
2. remove the remains of the jellyfish from the skin without touching it with your hands (it is better to scrape it off using the blunt side of a knife blade, manicure file, plastic card or other dense object);
3. wash the burn site with a soda solution (10 g per glass of water), salt solution (15 g per glass of water), and if there are no products at hand, use sea water for rinsing;
4. apply a cloth soaked in diluted apple cider vinegar or ammonia to the damaged area;
5. Cover the burn area with a bandage if blisters appear on the skin.

A facial burn can lead to facial paralysis and eye damage. In this case, you must immediately go to the hospital.

In case of swelling of the larynx, difficulty breathing, development of convulsions, loss of consciousness, urgent medical attention is needed - in this case, only injection administration of No-shpa (with the development of muscle spasms, cramps), glucocorticosteroids Diprospan (to relieve a severe allergic reaction), Medopred or Dexamethasone can help (with the development of anaphylactic shock). If the burn is minor, manifested only by swelling, redness, and burning, treatment can be carried out at home.

If you are burned by a jellyfish, you should not:

1. touch the damaged area with your hands;
2. rub and massage the burn area (so as not to provoke the spread of poison);
3. scratch the wound, even if the itching is very strong;
4. rinse the affected area with fresh water (this will only enhance the effect of toxins);
5. treat the burn with alcohol solutions, lotions, creams or oils, iodine, brilliant green.

Treatment

Further therapy consists of the use of local anti-burn and anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic antihistamines. The affected area can also be smeared with external remedies for insect bites (Fenistil gel, Psilobalm) - they relieve itching and burning well.

It is recommended to use local remedies:

1. Panthenol (or Bepanten). Products based on dexpanthenol reduce itching and burning, accelerate the regeneration of damaged skin cells.
2. Fenistil. Diphenhydramine-based gel has a pronounced antiallergic effect, reduces itching and burning, and skin irritation.
3. Afloderm. A hormonal agent containing alklometasone has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and antipruritic effect. Relieves an allergic reaction caused by a jellyfish sting.
4. Dermovate. A hormonal product based on clobetasol quickly relieves itching and redness, suppresses inflammatory processes in the skin.
5. Belogent. A combined drug based on the hormone betamethasone and the antibiotic gentamicin reduces inflammation, swelling and itching, and prevents the development of infectious complications. Used for severe and extensive damage to the skin.
6. Trimistin. A combined product based on the hormone triamcinolone and the antiseptic miramistin eliminates redness, swelling, itching and inflammation, and exhibits bactericidal properties.

If itching, rash and redness do not go away with the use of ointments, as well as in the case of severe extensive skin damage, local treatment of a jellyfish burn is supplemented with systemic antihistamines. Usually prescribed:

Any painkillers can help relieve pain:

During treatment of a jellyfish burn, it is important to maintain a drinking regime, avoid exposing the burn site to sunlight, and refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages.

Folk remedies

For minor injuries, you can use remedies prepared according to traditional medicine recipes:

1. mix a teaspoon of soda and salt with 2 tablespoons of water, apply the resulting mixture to the damaged area, leave until dry (the product reduces swelling of damaged tissues, neutralizes toxins);
2. dilute a mixture of 20 g of flour and 5 g of salt with water, make a compress with the resulting mass, keep for 3 hours (like the previous remedy, the compress helps neutralize toxins);
3. make a compress from finely grated carrots (reduces swelling and redness, stimulates regeneration);
4. Apply a tomato ring to the bite site (neutralizes the toxic substance) or a slice of lemon (reduces pain and redness).

A burn from a jellyfish can ruin your entire vacation, because even minor damage takes a long time to heal. But the main danger is that a jellyfish sting can lead to the development of severe dysfunction of internal organs.

To avoid encounters with dangerous inhabitants of the deep sea, during your vacation you need to follow basic safety rules: do not swim too far into the depths, avoid areas where jellyfish accumulate, be careful in the water, look around and do not touch anything while diving, do not touch jellyfish, washed ashore by a storm. By following these simple recommendations, you can ensure yourself a pleasant and relaxing holiday without incident. If a burn occurs, it is better to seek medical help.