Post by tekmac on Jul 18, 2005 10:07:33 GMT -5
By Dr. Gregory Smith, For the News-Leader
Just a few weeks ago, I published an article about the dangers of sharks. We all have this deep-seeded fear of sharks and think about them often when we are at the beach. Shark attacks are so rare that constant fears are not really justified. There is another danger lurking in the waters, but we commonly don't pay any attention to its presence. However, an attack could happen at any minute.
Last weekend my daughter, Peyton, was swimming in the ocean with me at her side, when she suddenly said that she felt like she had been bitten or stung by something. We got out and examined the area, but there were not any marks on her skin. She did feel like she was getting burned about the area of her leg, and so we poured some water across the area and then she put some ice on it. After about 20 minutes, her pain subsided and she was right back in the water.
We thought that maybe she had been stung by a jellyfish, but given how quickly she got over it, we didn't feel like this was actually what happened. It was not until the next morning when she got out of bed, and we saw the raised red bumps in a straight line across her thigh did we know for sure that indeed she had been another victim of a "jellyfish attack."
Jellyfish are found all over the world and release a venom when their tentacles come in contact with skin, which we call a "sting." Even a jellyfish lying on the shore can sting you if touched in the area of the tentacles. Raised, red welts develop along the site of the sting, often in a whip-like fashion, and may last for 1-2 weeks. An itchy skin rash referred to as "seabather's eruption" may then appear and then last for up to a few weeks after the sting. While the sting of a jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war can cause severe illness and extreme pain, documented deaths are rare and often result from a severe allergic reaction. The most venomous jellyfish in the world is known simply as the Box jellyfish and is found in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. It can cause a fatal reaction and it is the only jellyfish for which a specific antidote (antivenin) exists.
According to Lt. Thomas Wright of the Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, the cabbage head jellyfish is most common to our beaches here on the First Coast. You may have often seen these washed up on the beach. In addition to the cabbage head, there are other species of jellyfish in our waters, including the infamous man o'war. The Portuguese man-of-war is most common in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans and in the Gulf Stream of the North Atlantic Ocean. If the presence of Portuguese man-of-war has been noted in the area, lifeguards will signal this with purple flags, the color chosen because of the similar color to the man-of-war. The stings of this jellyfish are similar to other jellyfish stings, but much more intense and painful.
If you have been stung, thoroughly wash the area without rubbing it. Washing with seawater is preferable to fresh water. Ice may be used to help control the pain. Further treatment for stings uses a 50/50 mixture of vinegar or ammonia and water to neutralize the toxin. Urine is commonly discussed as an irrigant and does work, but I think I would stick with the sea water to wash it off. Another common remedy is a combination of water and meat tenderizer, or water and baking soda. This can be mixed into a paste that can be spread on the affected area until the pain subsides. Over-the-counter Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream may help control the itching that later develops. If you are at the beach, some lifeguards may carry an ointment called Stingaid, a gel which contains menthol, meat tenderizer and vinegar to treat the sting and soothe the burn.
Although it is rare, a severe allergic reaction is possible. If you begin to feel muscle spasms or feel like you are having difficulty breathing or that you are having swelling within your lips, tongue or throat, seek medical treatment immediately.
This column is written to discuss issues regarding sports, medicine and safety. It is not intended to serve as a replacement for treatment by your regular doctor. It is only designed to offer guidelines on the prevention, recognition and care of injuries and illness. Specific concerns should be discussed with your physician. Mail your questions to Gregory Smith, M.D., Sports Medicine, 1250 S. 18th Street, Suite 204, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. For appointments, call 261-8787 or visit www.gsmithmd.com.
Just a few weeks ago, I published an article about the dangers of sharks. We all have this deep-seeded fear of sharks and think about them often when we are at the beach. Shark attacks are so rare that constant fears are not really justified. There is another danger lurking in the waters, but we commonly don't pay any attention to its presence. However, an attack could happen at any minute.
Last weekend my daughter, Peyton, was swimming in the ocean with me at her side, when she suddenly said that she felt like she had been bitten or stung by something. We got out and examined the area, but there were not any marks on her skin. She did feel like she was getting burned about the area of her leg, and so we poured some water across the area and then she put some ice on it. After about 20 minutes, her pain subsided and she was right back in the water.
We thought that maybe she had been stung by a jellyfish, but given how quickly she got over it, we didn't feel like this was actually what happened. It was not until the next morning when she got out of bed, and we saw the raised red bumps in a straight line across her thigh did we know for sure that indeed she had been another victim of a "jellyfish attack."
Jellyfish are found all over the world and release a venom when their tentacles come in contact with skin, which we call a "sting." Even a jellyfish lying on the shore can sting you if touched in the area of the tentacles. Raised, red welts develop along the site of the sting, often in a whip-like fashion, and may last for 1-2 weeks. An itchy skin rash referred to as "seabather's eruption" may then appear and then last for up to a few weeks after the sting. While the sting of a jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war can cause severe illness and extreme pain, documented deaths are rare and often result from a severe allergic reaction. The most venomous jellyfish in the world is known simply as the Box jellyfish and is found in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. It can cause a fatal reaction and it is the only jellyfish for which a specific antidote (antivenin) exists.
According to Lt. Thomas Wright of the Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, the cabbage head jellyfish is most common to our beaches here on the First Coast. You may have often seen these washed up on the beach. In addition to the cabbage head, there are other species of jellyfish in our waters, including the infamous man o'war. The Portuguese man-of-war is most common in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans and in the Gulf Stream of the North Atlantic Ocean. If the presence of Portuguese man-of-war has been noted in the area, lifeguards will signal this with purple flags, the color chosen because of the similar color to the man-of-war. The stings of this jellyfish are similar to other jellyfish stings, but much more intense and painful.
If you have been stung, thoroughly wash the area without rubbing it. Washing with seawater is preferable to fresh water. Ice may be used to help control the pain. Further treatment for stings uses a 50/50 mixture of vinegar or ammonia and water to neutralize the toxin. Urine is commonly discussed as an irrigant and does work, but I think I would stick with the sea water to wash it off. Another common remedy is a combination of water and meat tenderizer, or water and baking soda. This can be mixed into a paste that can be spread on the affected area until the pain subsides. Over-the-counter Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream may help control the itching that later develops. If you are at the beach, some lifeguards may carry an ointment called Stingaid, a gel which contains menthol, meat tenderizer and vinegar to treat the sting and soothe the burn.
Although it is rare, a severe allergic reaction is possible. If you begin to feel muscle spasms or feel like you are having difficulty breathing or that you are having swelling within your lips, tongue or throat, seek medical treatment immediately.
This column is written to discuss issues regarding sports, medicine and safety. It is not intended to serve as a replacement for treatment by your regular doctor. It is only designed to offer guidelines on the prevention, recognition and care of injuries and illness. Specific concerns should be discussed with your physician. Mail your questions to Gregory Smith, M.D., Sports Medicine, 1250 S. 18th Street, Suite 204, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. For appointments, call 261-8787 or visit www.gsmithmd.com.