Treating a Jellyfish Sting--Ouch!
Anybody watch Oprah today? Her guest today was none other than Dr. Oz. He conducted a quiz about various health/medical topics to see how well the audience was informed. He asked this question:
What is the best cure for a jellyfish sting?
Multiple choice:
A. Urine
B. Meat tenderizer
C. Vinegar
D. Fresh water
Got any ideas? Urine? Meat tenderizer? Sound silly?
Actually all of the above have at one time or another been considered treatments for jellyfish stings.
Generally, the answer is C. In many cases, according to people who study these things, vinegar is the probably the most helpful thing to put on a jellyfish sting.
Urine has been shown not to be helpful. Meat tenderizer is a dubious treatment as well. Fresh water should never be put on a saltwater jellyfish sting. It makes whatever tentacles that are still stuck to your skin sting you even more. Rinse with sea water.
I've read that vinegar may help for some jellyfish stings, but should not be used on a Portuguese Man-of-war sting. For more info, visit my page on jellyfish , or download my free ebook on beach safety.
Labels: jellyfish
posted by David McRee, --BeachHunter at Tuesday, May 15, 2007
4 Comments:
My jelly fish sting from 9 days ago is now getting worse. It was healing fine,but now little bumps are appearing under the skin around it. They are unbelievably itchy! The sting site has become leathery and itchy after being fine for a week. The blisters had already gone down and it was just a bit red like a scab. Now it is completely aggravated and ithcy. What do you suggest?
Hi jb,
I'll recommend what other people have told me helps them. Taking Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and putting 1% hydrocortisone creme directly on the sting to help with the itching.
You didn't mention what you have done so far.
Someone else told me that using aloe was helpful. If you'd like to read more about what other people are doing to help their stings, please visit my forum at http://www.beachhunter.net/forum
If it gets worse, doesn't improve, or seems infected, see your doctor right away.
It is not uncommon for a jellyfish sting to seem to get better and then to flare up again, sometimes even 2 months later.
When we got stuck in a swarm of jellies in Honduras, we got covered in vinager. Stunk like all get out, but it felt so much better after...I sadly also go torn up by some coral while trying to dodge them...so I also had to get covered in rubbing alcohol.
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