You go to the beach, you bathe, you enjoy a summer day, on vacation. Taking some rest. And all of a sudden, you start to feel a very intense pain. And something stuck to a part of your body that makes you scream. The jellyfish sting is not nice, and it is usual that you find them on the beaches.
Therefore, in this case we are going to help you to know all the information about them, both to prevent a jellyfish from stinging you, and also to know how to act and first aid What should you give in case it happens?
The guilty animal: this is the jellyfish
Jellyfish are also known as aguamala or aquamar. For some time now, they get quite close to the beaches, and they usually do it as if they were floating on the surface. They appear white or even transparent. In fact, many confuse them with plastic bags, which is why they approach to pick them up and throw them away, and that is when they sting due to their tentacles.
Those tentacles have stingers and, when brushing against them, they penetrate your skin, which is why it is so painful.
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The jellyfish sting affects anyone, but you have to be special care in children, elderly people and in those who have allergies or health problems because it can be more dangerous. And even deadly.
Symptoms of a jellyfish sting
Believe us, if you get stung by a jellyfish, you will realize it. Although they usually float in the water, that does not mean that they are not at the bottom, and that they can adhere to any part of your body: feet, legs, waist, shoulders...
The symptoms you will notice are the following:
- Very strong and stabbing pain (because it has stuck some "needles" into you that are its stings.
- Tingling and burning in the area. Some refer that it is as if it burned and tickled you at the same time. They also talk about how it feels like electric currents.
- Red, brown or purple marking. That can stay for a few days or weeks.
- Itching and swelling.
However, there are people who can be affected much more by a jellyfish sting, and their symptoms become worse or even worse. need to go to a hospital to be treated. Among those symptoms are:
- Headache.
- Vomiting or nausea.
- Stomach problems.
- Breathing or heart problems.
- Loss of consciousness.
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How to cure a jellyfish sting: first aid
When a jellyfish stings you, the first thing you want, especially if you see it on your body, is to get rid of it. The problem is that it is not the best solution because it will stick more, and may even end up stinging you in more places on your body.
The pain you will feel scares you, but you must remain calm. Once the scare is over, do the following:
- Go to an aid station in the area. If you can't find any, have sea water on hand and pour it over the top to alleviate the reaction that appears on your skin a bit. It is normal for it to hurt and sting, because what the jellyfish introduces to you is poison, and the longer it has been doing it, the more serious the sting can be. Sometimes it is said that urine, or fresh water, helps to make it not hurt as much, but it is not true. In fact, with fresh water you will only make it hurt more and the stain will spread.
- In the aid stations, or the lifeguards, they will throw you out too saline, Since it is saline, it also stops the rash that appears and alleviates the symptoms that you will suffer a little.
- Do not touch the wound area at any time, because it is very sensitive. However, you do need to make sure that there are no stingers left in the skin. If so, you will have to go to the emergency room to have it removed (you shouldn't do it yourself because it could break and stay inside, which would be worse).
- If the jellyfish is still attached to you, they will have to use some tweezers to remove it. If you do it with your fingers or your hand, the only thing you are going to get is that it also ends up stinging you.
- After about 15 minutes, apply cold with ice (not directly). And then some analgesics or antihistamine creams have to be given.
Of course, in case this does not alleviate the symptoms, the treatment of the jellyfish sting may require you to go to a hospital.
Treatment if you are stung by a jellyfish
The treatment of the jellyfish sting, unless it is serious and you have to go to the emergency room, is based on two types of medications:
- Analgesics: They are used to calm the pain that is felt. These can range from the most common, such as Paracetamol, to others that are a little stronger, such as Nolotil, Metamizol or similar.
- Antihistamines: They are usually given in the form of creams. Some may also carry corticosteroids that will help the swelling to decrease, and also to make it painless.
In some cases, when more dangerous symptoms occur, antidotes to the jellyfish venom may be required, or even cardiopulmonary resuscitation if necessary.
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At home, you will have to clean the wound at least 3 times a day in addition to applying a cream and covering it so that it does not get the sun.
This is the jellyfish sting a week later
The intense pain of the jellyfish sting usually lasts about an hour, which will be the time you suffer the most. However, as a general rule, after that time you will notice more relief. As for the mark it has left on your body, it can last for 2-3 days. However, depending on the type of jellyfish, how much it has stung you, if you are allergic, if you have sensitive skin... this can last longer over time.
La jellyfish sting a week later is hardly noticeable, At most, you will have an area of a different color to the tone of your body, but without this implying that it hurts (although it will be somewhat more sensitive).
What is recommended is that you use a protective cream since, in addition to protecting you from the sun's rays, it also acts as a protective film for the skin against jellyfish.