After a few days, a jellyfish sting typically looks like fading red, purple, or brown tentacle marks, often with some lingering itchiness, but can develop into intensely itchy bumps, blisters, or a rash (delayed reaction) that might last weeks, or even show dusky skin with sores that could scar, depending on sting severity and type. The initial redness usually lessens, leaving behind marks that can slowly fade over days or months, though hypersensitivity can bring hives or rash, while deeper stings might form blisters or ulcers.
Jellyfish stings make raised, red welts that develop along the site of the sting. The welts may last for 1 to 2 weeks, and itchy skin rashes may appear 1 to 4 weeks after the sting. Portuguese man-of-war stings result in a red line with small white sores.
It's extremely painful, but in most cases, doesn't require a visit to the emergency room! If left untreated the symptoms generally resolve within one to two weeks. Dis- coloration of the skin may last one to two months. Although jellyfish stings can be quite painful, most are minor and get better with home treatment.
Types of Jellyfish Sting Reactions
The sting causes pain or burning at the site. Sometimes hives in the sting area occur. Blisters can occur in severe cases. Severe pain lasts 1-2 hours.
If you're been stung by a box jellyfish, it's important to carefully monitor your symptoms for hours after the sting. Seek medical attention right away for any severe symptoms. This includes breathing difficulties, chest or abdominal pains, or profuse sweating.
Delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to Cnidaria (jellyfish) constitutes a distinct clinical condition in which eczematous lesions manifest weeks or months subsequent to exposure to the invertebrate.
Most jellyfish stings improve within hours, but some stings can lead to skin irritation or rashes that last for weeks. Contact your provider if you continue to have itching at the sting site. Topical anti-inflammatory creams may be helpful. Portuguese man-of-war and sea nettle stings are rarely deadly.
When an itchy rash occurs several days to weeks after a sting, the rash may mean a delayed skin reaction has occurred. A delayed reaction can occur many times over the course of 1 to 2 months following a sting. You may have a fever, weakness, or joint stiffness or swelling.
Most jellyfish stings can be treated as follows:
Do not rinse with fresh water (like tap or bottled water) because that can make more stingers fire. Rinsing a sting with seawater may prevent stingers from releasing more venom. Also, do not scrape off any stingers still in the skin. This used to be recommended, but now is thought to make stings worse.
Most jellyfish stings are painful but not dangerous. A few jellyfish, however, release powerful venom into the skin. The stings of these species, if left untreated, can be dangerous or even deadly. Prompt jellyfish sting treatment can quickly alleviate pain and prevent a sting from getting worse.
When should I call my healthcare provider? Get emergency medical care if the sting is in the mouth, nose, or throat area, or if any other serious symptoms happen, such as trouble breathing.
Furthermore, some types of Chrysaora jellyfish (such as the box jellyfish, found mostly in Australia), are so dangerous that their stings can be fatal. The stings of this type of jellyfish typically cause burn-like wounds and chronic scarring which can lead to permanent scarring.
The Portuguese man-o'war is often mistaken for a jellyfish that swims in the water.
Contact with tentacles (even those that have broken off) can cause red, raised streaky welts that can last from 1-2 weeks and cause severe pain, tingling, itching, and even nausea and headache. Do not touch jellyfish that have washed up on the beach; even dead jellies can sting!
Symptoms of severe jellyfish stings include:
As well as dousing jellyfish stings with vinegar or hot water, the new EMS policy says lifeguards should scrape venom sacs from the skin. Clark said if lifeguards aren't in sight, beachgoers could remove the sacs in a pinch, as long as they're careful.
Seek medical help right away. Get medical attention right away if pain increases or there are any signs of breathing difficulty or chest pains. As soon as possible, rinse the sting site with large amounts of household vinegar for at least 30 seconds. Vinegar is safe and effective for all types of jellyfish stings.
Two days after a jellyfish sting, the skin begins to heal but may still show faint tentacle marks. If you have a hypersensitivity reaction, you might notice a rash or hives. 3 These can usually be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) oral antihistamines or corticosteroids.
Subsequent skin death can occur and lead to permanent scarring. In up to 60% of cases an itchy bumpy rash can occur 1-2 weeks later at the site of the sting. This 'delayed reaction' can be intensely itchy. The rash usually resolves within 10 days although it may occasionally persist for weeks.
Numerous venomous species of jellyfish occur in Australian waters, including the box jellyfish and Irukandji Jellyfish. Box jellyfish are believed to have caused at least 69 deaths since record keeping began in 1883. Although they are commonly mistaken for jellyfish, bluebottles are actually siphonophores.
Do not apply ice: the jellyfish toxin may linger even longer. Forget grandma's remedies such as urine, alcohol, and ammonia because they may make the situation worse or spread the stinging cells over a larger area.
Severe pain lasts 1-2 hours. Itch may last for a week. If the skin damage is severe, red or purple lines can last for weeks. General Reactions can occur if there are many stings.
Within minutes, the skin develops characteristic ladder-like welts where tentacles are touched. Depending on venom exposure, symptoms can progress to include difficulty breathing, heart problems, and severe muscle cramps. Without treatment, severe stings can cause unconsciousness and cardiac arrest within minutes.
Irukandji syndrome is a painful, potentially lethal condition caused by the sting and envenomation from multiple jellyfish species. It is characterized by severe pain, muscle cramping, hypertension, and potentially life-threatening cardiac complications.