What is Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)?
Cnidaria is a group of sea creatures that covers jellyfish, fire coral, stinging hydroids, sea wasps, sea nettle, and anemones. Jellyfish are responsible for most stings from sea creatures in the United States and even around the world, due to their large population. The seriousness and treatment of these stings can differ greatly. What determine the severity of a sting are the type of jellyfish involved, the extent of the sting, and certain factors related to the person stung.
What Causes Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)?
Jellyfish are spineless sea creatures that float in salty and mixed salt and fresh water. They have a round body part called a bell and long tentacles hanging down. Jellyfish use their stinging cells named nematocysts to catch and eat their food. These nematocysts are like tiny, sharp tubes filled with poison and they can inject venom into the skin of their victims with a pressure of two to five pounds per square inch.
You can find these stinging cells along the tentacles of the jellyfish and they release their venom using a spring-like action once they touch their prey. Remarkably, these cells can still work even if the jellyfish is dead. The venom enters through the outer layer of skin and can sometimes also reach the bloodstream causing symptoms both on the skin and in the body. People often get allergic reactions to the venom. Jellyfish stings happen when people accidentally bump into them, as jellyfish do not chase their prey.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
Jellyfish stings are a common occurrence in warm coastal waters, and most of these stings are mild. There have been incidents where stings have caused deaths, mainly due to specific types of jellyfish. For example, there have been two reported cases of deaths caused by the Portuguese Man-Of-War jellyfish.
Among the potent jellyfish species is the box jellyfish, also known as “Chironex Fleckeri” or the “sea wasp.” The sea wasp is especially prevalent and dangerous along the Australian coastlines, with history of causing deaths. If someone is stung by a sea wasp, it can result in a heart attack within minutes. This makes the sea wasp more dangerous than even the Great White shark!
Signs and Symptoms of Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
When stung by a jellyfish, people typically don’t see the creature but do feel an immediate pain. They may notice a red line or a red, itchy bump that shows up a few minutes after being stung. Sometimes, these marks take a few hours to appear. The sting of a jellyfish is often described as a burning sensation and can cause itchiness. The pain can last several hours to several days. More severe symptoms can include:
- Muscle weakness
- Seizures
- Severe allergic reaction
- Low blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing or chest tightness
- Fluid collection in the lungs
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Muscle cramps
- Eye irritation
- Sores on the surface of the eye
There is also a condition known as Irukandji syndrome, caused by a tiny jellyfish. The symptoms include pain at the sting site, which later spreads to the back, chest, and abdomen. People with Irukandji syndrome may also have high blood pressure and an abnormally fast heart rate. This happens due to an excessive release of a hormone involved in the body’s response to stress.
Sea bather’s eruption is another common reaction to jellyfish stings. This itchy skin rash is caused by the stings of jellyfish and sea anemone larvae. The venom can get trapped in a person’s bathing suit and ends up irritating the skin.
The Portuguese Man-Of-War, despite not being a true jellyfish, can also cause painful and potentially serious stings. Besides pain and possible scarring, symptoms can include abnormal skin sensations, nausea, headache, chills, and in extreme cases, even heart or lung failure.
Testing for Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
Diagnosing a jellyfish sting is primarily based on the patient’s account of what happened. Essential details needed include the exact timing of the sting, the part of your body that was stung, what you were doing when you got stung, the type of water you were in (whether it was oceanic or fresh water), your geographical location, and when you started experiencing symptoms. Medical professionals will then take your medical history, check your vital signs (airway, breathing, and circulation), and carry out a comprehensive physical examination, including inspecting your skin for any reactions resulting from the sting.
Treatment Options for Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
The immediate step to treating a jellyfish sting is to gently remove the stinging cells, known as nematocysts, from the skin. This can be done using mild pressure with a credit card. Applying shaving cream or a mixture of baking soda can further assist in removing the nematocysts. However, excessive pressure should be avoided as it may trigger the stinging cells to release more toxins. It’s important not to rinse the wound with freshwater – this could cause the stinging cells to release more venom because of the changes in fluid pressure. Instead, soaking the wound in seawater can provide some pain relief.
The treatment can vary depending on the type of jellyfish that caused the sting. Generally, in cases involving most types of jellyfish found in the US, immersing the affected area in hot water can help reduce the pain. Use the hottest water the patient can tolerate without causing burns. Household vinegar, also known as acetic acid, can also be used to ease pain. Soaking the affected area in 5% acetic acid for about 30 minutes can minimize the venom’s impact. Once all the nematocysts are removed, topical anesthetics can be applied for pain relief. In cases of severe pain, stronger painkillers may be necessary. Corticosteroids may be needed for severe symptoms and antihistamines for itchiness. Updating the patient’s tetanus vaccination is also recommended during their visit to the emergency department. Patients showing signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) should be treated the same way you’d treat any anaphylaxis.
You might have heard the myth that urine can alleviate a jellyfish sting’s pain. As of now, there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim and is therefore not a suggested treatment method.
In cases of severe stings from the sea wasp jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), which can lead to cardiac arrest, an antitoxin should be given. The starting dosage is one vial or 20,000 units, and this can be increased up to six vials if necessary. The effects of the antivenom can take about 60 to 70 minutes to kick in, so prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation might be required.
For seabathers’ eruption, which is a skin rash caused by a jellyfish sting, antihistamines like diphenhydramine, loratadine, or hydroxyzine can be given to relieve itching. Topical calamine lotion can also provide itch relief.
What else can Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings) be?
The different conditions that should be considered when diagnosing could include skin infection (cellulitis), stomach flu (gastroenteritis), and poisonous bite or sting from other sea creatures like corals, sea urchins, fish, and stingrays.
What to expect with Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
Generally, the outlook for mild stings is positive as they typically only need basic care. However, severe bites or stings from creatures like Cnidaria, which have more potent toxins, can lead to serious, possibly life-threatening complications. These severe stings should be treated promptly and assertively, using life-saving procedures and antivenom treatments.
Possible Complications When Diagnosed with Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
The effects of stings from Cnidaria, a type of marine life, can vary greatly. They range from minor symptoms to more severe ones that can be threatening to life. Problems that arise from these stings, known as envenomation, include skin infection, pus-filled abscesses, allergic reactions, severe allergic reactions resulting in difficulty breathing, and shutting down of the heart and lungs.
Common Complications:
- Skin infection (cellulitis)
- Pus-filled abscesses
- Allergic reactions
- Severe allergic reactions resulting in difficulty breathing (anaphylaxis)
- Shutting down of the heart and lungs (cardiorespiratory arrest)
Preventing Cnidaria Toxicity (Jellyfish, Fire coral, Stinging Hydroid, Sea Wasps, Sea Nettle, and Anemone Stings)
There are numerous over-the-counter products that can help prevent jellyfish stings. These options include special suits for swimmers and surfers, as well as lotions that imitate the protective mucus found on clownfish.
Patients who seem healthy and display no symptoms of general illness can usually go home, but they should be careful to watch out for any signs of a severe allergic reaction. On the other hand, patients who are showing serious symptoms, or need a treatment to counteract the jellyfish venom, should be admitted to the hospital for further care and management.