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A jellyfish is a gelatinous marine animal with cnidocysts, which are like micro syringes that inject toxic substances.
Although most sting injuries are caused by live jellyfish, it is common for contact to occur with a dead jellyfish or with tentacle remnants in the water.
Most stings present with linear red skin lesions and urticaria. Although hives develop within minutes, they may also appear within hours.
Diagnosis is made by history and physical examination.
Treatment includes removal of the tentacles remaining on the skin and application of hot water or vinegar to the affected area to destroy the injected toxin.
- Erin N Marcus. Jellyfish stings. UpToDate. Oct 2016
- O'Reilly GM. Prospective study of jellyfish stings from tropical Australia, including the major box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri. Med J Aust 2001; 175:652.
- Macrokanis CJ. Irukandji syndrome in northern Western Australia: an emerging health problem. Med J Aust 2004; 181:699.
- Fox JW. Venoms and poisons from marine organisms. In: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st, Goldman. (Ed), WB Saunders, Philadelphia 2000. p.437.
- Charles Lei. Trastornos causados por mordedura por víboras venenosas y exposición a animales marinos. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna, 19e. Cap 474
Dr. Abel Andrés Orelogio
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