JELLY FISH
ÄJellyfish are free-swimming, non-aggressive, gelatinous marine animals surrounded by tentacles-covered with sacs (nematocysts) that are filled with poison (venom) that can cause a painful to sometimes life-threatening sting.ÄThe marine animals included in the “family” are jellyfish, box jellyfish (sea wasps), Portuguese man-of-war, hydroids, anemones, and fire coral.ÄJellyfish are found throughout the world. But, the most deadly are found in the Indo-Pacific and Australian waters.
•Belong to the Phylum “Cnidaria”
•have tentacles with stinging cells called nematocysts.
•2 Layers
- epidermis -outer
- gastrodermis -inner mesoglea-jelly between the layers
-Jellyfish have sensors in their tentacles that can detect movement around them. When movement is detected, stingers shoot out and paralyze the prey
•more than 200 species of jellyfish
•Jellyfish have a short lifespan, the longest surviving species living only two to six months
•ocean sunfish and leatherback turtles are two of the jellyfish predators
•Jellyfish often appear clear or pale blue color. But they can also be yellow, deep blue, bright purple, pale lilac, bright orange, deep red.
•No bones. No brains.
Sign & Symptom ( toxicity )
•Intense pain ( stinging pain / burning sensation )
–Itching , redness, rash and raised welts , haemorragic lesion
–Numbness , tingling sensation progress to muscle spasm
•Progress effect
–Nausea / vomiting / diarrhoea
–Abdominal pain / Backache
–Lymph node swelling
–Fever
•Difficulty in breathing
–Respiratory distress sign
–Laryngeal Oedema
–Anaphylactic Shock
•Coma
Death
Urgent ( Medical Care )
•Difficulty in Breathing / swallowing
•Chest pain / discomfort
•Intense pain
•Very young / Old
•Involving Large area
–Face , Eyes / Genital
•Voices changes
•Difficulty in swallowing
•Swelling of tongue or lips
Treatment & Management
-URGENT identified life threatening condition
-Deactivation of nematocytes
–Flood / soak with vinegar ( acetic acid 2-10%) for 10 -15 mins ( using sprayed )
–Removal of tentacles – tweeters / gloves
–Sprinkles with baking powder ( sodium bocarbonate ( NaHCO3 )
– & Scrap off
–“ Sting Mate “ gel
-Do not use WATER – wash /soak
-Analgesic ( pain killer )
-Continue assessment
–Allergies reaction
-Refer to hospital if necessary
–Toxin-coated spines that fracture
-They are a type of animal called echinoderms.
-There teeth can move in all different dirctions.
-They have no brains.
-They have water-filled channels that flow through there bodies.
•Symptoms:
–Pain, burning, discoloration of skin
–Immerse injured area in hot water
–Use acetic acid to dissolve embedded spines
–Larger spines may require surgical removal
Treatment
Immerse in very hot water OR Apply a hot pack – FOR 30-90 MINUTES (~ 45°C)
(as hot as the pt can tolerate without getting burn – heat rapidly decreases the pain)
-Refer to Hospital
Prognosis:
-Minimal pain in 24-48 hours
-Healing within 1-2 weeks
