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Jelly fish can cause a severe sting when there is any direct contact made. The sting caused by these gelatinous marine animals can have varying levels of severity, with different symptoms, depending on the type of jelly fish and the region that has been stung. The degree of pain may vary from mild to severe and in some cases jelly fish stings can even be fatal.
The most common symptoms are pain, redness and an itch. If the sting is very severe the usual symptoms may also be accompanied by headaches, nausea, weakness, hyper pulse rate, muscle pain spasms, chest pain and more.
Apart from medical treatments that you can seek there are also several natural treatments that you can try and certain first aid procedures that you must follow.
Your first and obvious priority should obviously be to get out of the water to avoid being stung again.
Make sure that you do not wash the area with water and any contact with fresh water should be avoided. The jellyfish tentacle will swell with fresh water, making it harder to dislodge from the skin. Avoid rubbing it with alcohol as even though it does not cause swelling of the tentacle, in some species this will trigger the tentacle to release its venom.
Urine, vinegar or ammonia can help to make sure that the tentacle does not release any venom.
Applying such acid solutions prevents the tentacle from processing its neomacysts, which are tiny packets of venom responsible for tissue damage and worse. A single-tentacled sting is generally very mild and may not require this treatment, but there is no harm in taking the precaution as it will do no harm. The use of urine as a treatment is not a myth. It is effective because of the urea content, but its effectiveness will vary depending on the urea content of the urine.
Once the tentacle has been removed there may not be any need for further treatment, depending on the symptoms. Any sting to sensitive areas of the body like the eyes, mouth, penis or vulva will however require emergency room treatment. Such treatment will also be necessary if there is swelling in the throat or shortness of breath.
Mild pain, redness and itching that may linger on but can be treated with some home remedies. Applying castor oil on the affected area for a few days will help it heal swiftly. Aloe vera gel can also help soothe the area.
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