Jellyfish Sting Injuries

Jellyfish stings can cause mild pain and tissue inflammation or extremely intense pain and severe inflammation. It can be very difficult to identify the type of jellyfish that created the sting unless you actually see it. Jellyfish with long tentacles tend to make long lash-like marks on the skin where the tentacles lay. The photos on this page were all emailed to me by BeachHunter visitors. If you have a photo(s) you would like to share, you can email them to me at beachhunter[at]beachhunter.net. Comments from scientists, health professionals, lifeguards, or anyone else with jellyfish experience or knowledge are always welcome. If you have a jellyfish story or information, please consider emailing me with your info and photos to share with everyone (Contact BeachHunter). Your story doesn't necessarily have to pertain to Florida, but I do prefer information that involves the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coastal US, or the northern Caribbean.

All of the photos on this page are being used with permission and are subject to copyright protections as afforded by law.

Jellyfish sting injury to leg.

Anna L. of South Carolina sent in the above photo to accompany her story below

While vacationing for the second time on Edisto IslandI was stung by something in the water while swimming with my children and husband.  My husband and little girl were in about waste deep water while my son and I were playing where the waves were breaking - about 2.5 feet deep.  I was laying in the water with my hands holding up my body - head facing shore with my feet floating behind me when I felt the most excruciating sting ever.  It felt like an electrical shock, took my breath away - literally - it was hard for me to speak. Instantly I jumped up - grabbed my 5 year old and pulled him up out of the water - knowing I could not let this thing get him.  At the same time I yelled at my husband and daughter to get out of the water.  I quickly looked over my children's bodies to make sure they had not been stung - they hadn't.  Then I started to shake ... I couldn't help it - it was from the intense sting - I looked down at my legs and fell to the sand - my husband then pulled off one clear tentacle from my left leg - got stung a bit.  My hands were shaking and the pain was very intense. 

Jellyfish sting relief spray-on gel.

jellyfish sting relief gel - Ocean Care Solutions

We walked back to our beach house and I was in a great deal of pain for the next 3 to 4 hours.  The pain came in waves - very reminiscent of labor contractions - very bizarre.  My heart rate was elevated for several hours - and my breathing was a little different - I felt like I was not getting enough air - took deep breaths for awhile.  I should have gone to the hospital - but didn't want to make the drive.  I took 3 Benedryl and went to sleep.  The next day was okay - but both legs and feet were starting to swell.  By the end of the day I had kankles and I was most uncomfortable.  The worst of it came at night with the most extreme itching I've ever experienced - I didn't sleep for 2 nights in a row and on the second night I was so uncomfortable I got up and sat in the shower with the water running (not hot)- only thing that would relieve it a bit - but I was miserable - crying.  At one moment I thought death would be better than what I felt.  The lymph nodes in both my legs near my groin were swollen and tender.  It took several weeks for the discomfort and swelling to go away.  I still have scars on both legs to this day from the sting. 

I didn't see the jelly that got me as the water in Edisto is not clear - quite murky.  I'm just curious as to what species you think may have got me.  I'm only thankful it stung me and not one of the children.  This was not my first sting - but rather my 5th, once in Mexico, and all 4 other times in South Carolina.  None of the previous stings had any lasting effects on me - just mild stinging and welps that faded in a matter of hours.  Anna has additional photos of the stings on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/16032925@N04/1736272798/in/photostream/

BeachHunter's note: Since Anna did not see the jellyfish that stung her, it is impossible to identify the type. Since it was not visible and the tentacles were clear, I rule out the likelihood that it was a man-of-war, since that animal has deep purple tentacles and has a float that is visible above the water. What else is likely? A large sea nettle perhaps, or a lion's mane jelly. She credits vinegar and baking soda for helping to relieve the itching that came on during healing.

The following photos of a jellyfish sting from Daytona Beach, Florida were sent in by K. Randazzo:

Jellyfish sting injury to legs and thighs. Jellyfish sting injury to knee and thigh. Jellyfish sting injury to knee.

Below is a photo of a minor sting to the upper arm. Photo by S. Blakley, Sept 2007. Sting happened in the bay, near Eglin Air Force Base (near Ft. Walton Beach) in the Florida Panhandle. He was lucky to get such a small sting.

Minor jellyfish sting on upper arm. S. Blakley. Ft. Walton Beach, FL.

Lisa D. sent the two photos below taken of her six-year-old daughter three days after being stung by a jellyfish.

Jellyfish sting injury to child's back. Lisa D.

Jellyfish injury to child's side and abdomen. Lisa D.

These are pictures of my 6 year daughter, 3 days after the sting.  She also has marks on her hand and leg which you can't see here.  It looks like the thing engulfed her around the middle.  These pictures also don't really show how bad it looked.  It's been a week now, and they are fading and itching slightly. She was swimming in Perdido Key, in about 3 feet of water, she said she never saw it, she just got out running and screaming.  We carried her back to the house and where our skin touched her, we were burning as well.  I first used vinegar which did seem to help somewhat, but what really helped was "Sting Away".  The fire department is right down the street and they happened to have it.  Luckily she didn't have any other reactions, and seems to be fine."

I have not been able to find out much information about Sting Away, other than one website that indicates that the active ingredient is some kind of enzyme which I suspect may be papain which is commonly used as meat tenderizer.

Here is a pretty good article on treating jellyfish stings with hot water (up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit): http://www.getbetterhealth.com/hot-water-for-jellyfish-stings/2009.08.15 Hot water treatment is getting more and more good reviews from various emergency responders and healthcare practitioners.

Jellyfish Sting First Aid Kit

Man-of-War sting first aid kit from Ocean Care Solutions

Ocean Care Solutions provides effective, medically supported First-aid pain relief products for marine stings including the Portuguese Man O War, Stingray, Sea Urchin, Fire Coral and, a variety of jellyfish sting injuries.

These kits contain everything you need to treat most jellyfish stings as well as stings from other venomous marine animals. They are packaged in lightweight, waterproof, sealed foil bags that are easy to keep in a beach bag or in the car. Visit the Ocean Care Solutions web site for more info and to order.

Jamie of Pittsburg sent in the photos below and wrote:

"These pics were taken three days after I was stung in the ocean at Hilton Head, SC.  I got stung last Thursday, and it felt like I was stung multiple times.  I had to go on steroids yesterday because the itchy welts were unbearable. They are more purple today, and still as annoying as ever." Jamie J.R.,Pittsburgh, PA

Jellyfish sting on legs. Jamie J.R. Pittsburg, PA

Jellyfish sting on legs. Jamie J.R. Pittsburg, PA

Copyright: David McRee, BeachHunter.net