Jellyfish Stings: A Practical Approach

Najla A Lakkis; Grace J Maalouf; Dina M Mahmassani

doi:10.1016/j.wem.2015.01.003

Jellyfish Stings: A Practical Approach

Wilderness Environ Med. 2015 Sep;26(3):422-9. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2015.01.003. Epub 2015 Apr 29.

Authors

Najla A Lakkis¹, Grace J Maalouf², Dina M Mahmassani¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
² Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 25935311
DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2015.01.003

Abstract

Jellyfish have a worldwide distribution. Their stings can cause different reactions, ranging from cutaneous, localized, and self-limited to serious systemic or fatal ones, depending on the envenoming species. Several first aid treatments are used to manage such stings but few have evidence behind their use. This review of the literature describes and discusses the different related first aid and treatment recommendations, ending with a summarized practical approach. Further randomized controlled trials in this field are needed.

Keywords: Cnideria; jellyfish; marine envenomation; marine stings; medusa.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Bites and Stings / etiology
Bites and Stings / therapy*
Cnidaria / classification
Cnidaria / physiology*
First Aid / instrumentation
First Aid / methods*
Humans