With the return of summer, we return to visit the beaches and we fear the marine inhabitants who fear us the most: Jellyfish.
They are almost transparent, so we often have trouble seeing them. They move basically dragged by sea currents, but are able to propel themselves by rhythmic movements of their umbrellas. They tend to have tentacles, which is where they have stinging cells. The contact with these cells is what produces the call Jellyfish sting.
The symptoms it produces in the contact area are:
- Throbbing pain.
- Itching
- Redness and inflammation of the area.
There are people that have sensitivity to the stinging substance and contact with her triggers a series of more serious general symptoms:
- Thoracic oppression
- Cramps and muscle spasms.
- Respiratory distress
- Headache, vomiting
- Anaphylactic shock (reaction to the substance that causes a shock).
Before a jellyfish sting we must act as follows:
- Wash the area with seawater from the shore to remove the stinging substance. (If it were sweet it would break the stinging cells by the change of salinity).
- Do not rub, as the reaction extends further.
- Remove possible fragments that remain attached to the skin (with tweezers or a thick towel).
- Apply local cold if possible, the cold causes the blood vessels to close and the reaction to spread as little as possible. Ice wrapped in a rag or towel.
- Once at home, wash with a solution of water and vinegar in equal parts, which have just denatured the stinging substance and helps clean the remains.
- Take an oral antihistamine / corticosteroid ointment (Hydrocortisone). Although the prescription must be medical.
- Do not use ointments with antihistamine because it produces allergies to sun exposure.
In people with general symptoms, because they are serious, It is necessary to move the person to a health center.
