What are the remedies for a jellyfish sting?

Question

My son was just recently stung by a jellyfish and he is very uncomfortable and I was looking for a remedy to make him at least able to sleep tonight comfortably.

Answer 1

First instance: vinegar.

At this stage, apply calomine.

Answer 2

Urine is the most common misconception for jellyfish stings. Don't bother.

Vinegar works for cubozoan stings, but the only thing it will do is deactivate any stinging organelles that haven't already discharged that may still remain on the skin. It won't have any effect on venom that has already been delivered into a victim's tissues. And that should have been done on the spot, not hours later.

Since there are many, many kinds of jellyfish and an enormous variety of venom and envenoming syndromes, it would be best if you could give a better indication of what the situation is. Specifically--where in the world are you (that would help me narrow down the possibilities of what stung him), and does he know what the jellyfish looked like? Also, by "uncomfortable", what are we talking about here--localized pain just on the skin like itchiness and tenderness, or are we dealing with muscle pain, joint pain, or any systemic symptoms? If it's local, and not getting any worse, I'd say work on the analgesics for the night and then take him to a doctor in the morning if it really isn't getting any better. If it's systemic, get thee to the ER.

FYI: Meat tenderizer, baking soda, seawater, freshwater, methylated spirits (methanol), and rubbing alcohol have been clinically trialled for effectiveness about 25 years ago. NONE of them will deactivate any toxins, period. Nor are they effective in jellyfish stings, though they may work for some land animal stings. Do not use any of these methods--unfortunately, these urban rumors die hard.

Answer 3

A 5% percent acetic acid solution (available commercially as white vinegar) is the preferred method. Solutions of meat tenderizer, or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will neutralize any stingers that have not yet released their poison. Meat tenderizer should not be left on the skin for more than 15 minutes. None of these substances should be used in the eyes. In the case of stings on or near the eyes, dip a towel in the deactivating solution and dab it around the eyes, but not directly into open eyes. Salt water can be used if none of the above products are available. After the stingers are deactivated, persons with protective clothes and gloves should carefully remove any tentacles from the victim. Any remaining embedded stingers should then be removed. This can be done by applying shaving cream to the affected area and carefully scraping the sting area with a sharp surface, such as a razor, a knife blade, or even a sharp plastic edge such as a credit card. Mild skin irritation can be soothed with the use of over-the-counter antihistamines containing diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl (tm)).

Answer 4

Rinse with seawater. Avoid fresh water because it will increase pain. Do not rub the wound or apply ice to it.
For classic box jellyfish stings, apply topical acetic acid (vinegar) or isopropyl alcohol.
Remove tentacles with tweezers.
Apply shaving cream or a paste of baking soda or mud to the wound. Shave the area with a razor or knife and then reapply vinegar or alcohol. The shaving cream or paste prevents nematocysts that have not been activated from discharging toxin during removal with the razor.
Immobilize the extremity because movement may cause the venom to spread.
Hydrocortisone cream may be applied 2-3 times daily to relieve itching. Discontinue immediately if any signs of infection appear.
Eye stings should be irrigated with 1 gallon of fresh water.
Mouth stings should be treated with 1/4 strength vinegar. Avoid vinegar if oral swelling or difficulty swallowing occurs.
For a box jellyfish sting, after treatment with vinegar or alcohol, use the pressure-immobilization technique.


The extremity should be wrapped with a bandage in a style similar to wrapping a sprained ankle.


Bind the limb firmly but do not stop the circulation. The fingers and toes should remain pink.


Leave bandages intact until medical personnel are available for treatment.

Answer 5

Vinegar as soon as possible after the jellyfish sting. It stops the stinging cells that haven't stung you yet. I found relief within a minutes to half an hour. Lifeguards in L.A. use spray bottles to apply.
Also a doctor I worked with years ago, discovered that A-1 Sauce worked. It could be the vinegar in it that makes it work.
White vinegar is best since it doesn't stain.

Answer 6

When stung by a jellyfish, first aid may be in order. Though most jellyfish stings are not deadly, other stings, such as those perpetrated by the box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) — the most venomous marine creature and possibly the most venomous of any creature on earth — may be fatal. Serious stings may cause anaphylaxis and eventual paralyzation, and hence people stung by jellyfish must get out of the water to avoid drowning. In these serious cases, advanced professional care must be sought. This care may include administration of an antivenin and other supportive care such as required to treat the symptoms of anaphylactic shock.

There are three goals of first aid for uncomplicated jellyfish stings: prevent injury to rescuers, inactivate the nematocysts, and remove any tentacles stuck on the patient. To prevent injury to rescuers, barrier clothing should be worn. This protection may include anything from panty hose to wet suits to full-body sting-proof suits. Inactivating the nematocysts, or stinging cells, prevents further injection of venom into the patient. Five percent acetic acid solution (white vinegar) is the preferred method, although meat tenderizer, or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will neutralize any nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the skin. Meat tenderizer should not be left on the skin for more than 15 minutes, and none of these substances should be used in the eyes. In the case of stings on or around the eyes, the solution may be placed on a towel and dabbed around the eyes, but not in them. Salt water may also be used in case any of these compounds are not readily available, but fresh water should never be used. Rinsing the sting site with fresh water, rubbing the wound, or using alcohol, spirits, ammonia, or urine will encourage the release of venom.

Once deactivated, the stinging cells must be removed. This can be accomplished by picking off tentacles left on the body. First aid providers should be careful to use gloves or another readily available barrier device to prevent personal injury, and to follow standard universal precautions. After large pieces of the jellyfish are removed, shaving cream may be applied to the area and a knife edge, safety razor, or credit card may be used to take away any remaining nematocysts.

Beyond initial first aid, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may be used to control skin irritation (pruritis).

Answer 7

NOT RUBBING is the best treatment. Applying some vinegar to stop the nematocysts from firing new stingers would be the second treatment. Then remove any 'gossamer' strings you can find. ( the skin on your fingers usually cannot feel the stinging so removal with your fingers is ok). After this, the best thing is very hot water ( but not burning) and that is about all you can do but wait for the pain to go away. Some people use amonia. I suggest you do NOT use meat tenderizer. I got this off the web, i hope it helps.

Answer 8

If you haven't already done this, wash the area where he was stung in vinegar or use meat tenderizer on it - this deactivates the toxins from the jellyfish so he isn't continuing to be "stung" by leftover bits on his skin. You can apply hydrocortisone cream to the area (2-3 times a day) and give him pain killers like Tylenol or ibuprofen. If the pain persists and worsens or he seems to be having an allergic reaction, get him to a doctor. Otherwise, he'll just have to kind of tough it out. :o(

Answer 9

Well, one common remedy, or at least partial relief to the sting of a jelly fish is to apply white over-the-counter vinegar to the sting site, this neutralizes the toxins. However being on the beach, it may be difficult to find vinegar, so putting the stung area into the cool sand is a quick partial relief

Answer 10

When I was badly stung, the lifeguard put meat tenderizer on the sting.

Although there are different types of jellyfish. I was severely stung by a Man-of-War while swimming in the ocean. I don't know if they all sting in a similar manner, but with a man-of-war, they look almost like a floating blue bubble, but underneath they have very long tentacles. When they sting bad, they usually wrap their long tentacles around whatever it is they are stinging. For example when I was stung, I initially just felt the tentacles brush my leg, but then it wrapped its tentacles practically from my thigh to my ankle and they stick to you and sting EXTREMELY bad. And like I said in my case, the lifeguard who helped me put meat tenderizer on it and I was told to take something for the pain and to help me sleep at night, like Tylenol PM or something similar.

Answer 11

For stings from a jellyfish, pour seawater over the affected area for ten minutes to deactivate any remaining toxins. (Fresh water releases remaining toxins instead of deactivating them, increasing the pain.) Then, soak the affected area in vinegar. Then apply ice.

If vinegar is not available, apply baking soda, rubbing alcohol, meat tenderizer, or diluted ammonia.

The old-fashioned cure is one's own urine since it contains plenty of ammonia.