The Australian scientists found that vinegar increased the amount of venom released by box jellyfish,
Vinegar is used to stop the venom in stingers. Caution: Do not use ammonia, urine, rubbing alcohol, fresh water or ice. They all can trigger the release of more venom. If you don't have vinegar, move on to scraping off the stingers.
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.
Management and Treatment
Wash the tentacles and venom off the affected area of your body with seawater. Don't use freshwater. Using tweezers or gloved hands, remove any tentacles you see in your skin. Apply vinegar or rubbing alcohol to the affected area to stop any more firings of nematocysts.
However, applying vinegar was shown to prevent further venom release, allowing the tentacles to be safely removed. Immersing the area in 45C water or applying a heatpack resulted in fewer red blood cells being killed.
1, 2022). It seems that vinegar is helpful for the stings of some jellyfish species and harmful for those of others (Toxins, July 21, 2021). Consequently, swimmers shouldn't use vinegar on jellyfish stings unless they know precisely which species has caused the sting and whether vinegar will be helpful.
Wash the area with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
Treat pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever. If pain is severe, see a doctor for more effective relief. Treat itching with an over-the-counter anti-itch cream and/or an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®). If itching is severe, see a doctor for a stronger preparation.
In severe cases, blisters and welts that look like a string of beads may appear. Seabather's eruption is a rash that develops from the stings of jellyfish or sea anemone larvae. The rash can be itchy and annoying. It usually goes away without medical treatment in 10 to 14 days.
Use over-the-counter pain and itch relief.
For most stings, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with the pain. And if you're experiencing itchiness or swelling, medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can also help.
These include: Hot packs to reduce swelling and inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. A topical antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin to reduce the risk of infection.
Pour vinegar on the jellyfish stings for 30 seconds. This stops any tentacles (nematocysts) that haven't already fired venom from firing. If vinegar is not available, wash the stings with sea water.
Soothe a Jellyfish Sting
The exact healing capabilities of Coca-Cola on jellyfish stings remains a topic of debate, but according to an Australian study from 1993, Coca-Cola reduced the pain and the reaction to a sting between 25 to 75 percent.
Do not pee on your friend's jellyfish sting unless you are hazing them into your fraternity. And don't spray Windex on the sting either. Both these “remedies” actually irritate the wound more, plus they make you smell bad.
At the sting site there is a characteristic raised red line that remains for hours to days. There is good evidence immersing someone in hot water works when treating bluebottle stings. Hot water inactivates the jellyfish toxins and so stops the pain; it is effective in about 90% of cases after 20 minutes.
Wounds should be cleaned 3 times each day and covered with a thin layer of antiseptic ointment. But when a deep sore develops, you may need medical treatment to help the sore heal and prevent infection.
The temperature of the water should be around 106-113°F or as hot as tolerable that is not scalding. If a tub for hot water immersion or a shower is not available, a chemical heat pack can be applied over the affected area.
(Pouring urine on the stung area has the same effect.) * Start healing. Apply vitamin E or aloe vera juice to heal tissue and reduce inflammation. Adapted from The Natural First Aid Handbook by Brigitte Mars (Storey Publishing).
However, in the event you do come in contact with a jellyfish and are stung, we recommend you help diminish the pain by treating the affected area with ammonia poured over the skin or simply apply meat tenderizer or toothpaste. The best way to avoid stings is, of course, to avoid jellyfish areas.
Consequently, common home remedies such as vinegar, lemon juice, and urine may actually cause additional nematocysts remaining on the skin to discharge, thereby worsening the injury. The second therapeutic objective has concentrated on inactivating the venom.
After a sting, the first step is to rinse, not rub, the area with salt water to wash off stingers. Fresh water doesn't work as well, because it often has chlorine in it, which can make stingers sink further into the skin, said Bruce Fuller, a local dermatologist.
Vinegar (5% acetic acid) has been shown to be the best rinse for box jellyfish.
Wash the sting with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.