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The burning jellyfish

The burning jellyfish

The burning jellyfish

Every summer someone experiences an unpleasant encounter with a jellyfish. The yellow-red and blue jellyfish found along the Norwegian coast can cause severe discomfort if you are stung, but are usually harmless. In warmer waters, there are far more poisonous stingrays that can cause life-threatening symptoms.

Jellyfish

Most jellyfish consist mainly of water. They have a jelly-like body with several stinging threads (tentacles) that can be up to 30 meters long. Poisonous stinging nettle cells sit close together on the burning threads. When a burning wire is touched, the poison is released by an "arrow" springing out and injecting poison into the victim's skin. Also torn burning threads, and burning threads of dead jellyfish can produce a burning effect in the same way.

Common symptoms after encountering stinging jellyfish

  • Immediate burning pain

  • Itch

  • Skin irritation

  • Red marks can appear where the threads have been, and they can develop into blisters and sores

In rare cases, some may develop symptoms such as nausea, allergic/hypersensitivity reactions, muscle pain and shortness of breath. The risk of developing serious symptoms is greatest for children. As a rule, the skin irritation disappears within a few hours.

First aid

  • Immediately remove visible burn threads without rubbing or scrubbing.

  • Rinse with plenty of seawater. Do not use fresh water as it can increase the release of toxins stuck on the skin.

  • Keep the area as quiet as possible.

  • If the eye is burned, rinse with lukewarm water for 20 minutes and contact a doctor.

Pain relief

  • Immerse the injured skin area in warm water (ideal is 40-45˚C) until the pain subsides, or up to 20 minutes. Hot water destroys the jellyfish's toxins.

  • Current ointments or creams you can use after all threads have been removed can be topical agents, anti-itch agents or cortisone cream. Do not use such ointments or creams on large areas of skin. Follow the dosage instructions on the package leaflets/package insert.

  • In case of severe pain, painkillers (eg paracetamol) can be tried.

  • If pain or reaction persists, contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice.


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