Effect of Rinse Solutions on Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) Stings and the Ineffective Role of Vinegar in Scyphozoan Jellyfish Species

is a widely distributed scyphozoan in the Mediterranean Sea. Their stings result mainly in erythema, small vesicles, or/and pain, and cause a high number of bathers to seek assistance from first-aid services during the summer season. Despite the threat that jellyfish stings represent to public healt...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2023-01, Vol.20 (3), p.2344
Main Authors: Ballesteros, Ainara, Marambio, Macarena, Trullas, Carles, Jourdan, Eric, Tena-Medialdea, Jose, Gili, Josep-Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetic Acid
Acids
Ammonia
Animals
Baking
Beaches
Bites and Stings
Cassiopea
Cnidaria
Cnidarian Venoms
Communication
Drinking water
Erythema
First aid
Hydrogen peroxide
Pain
Public health
Rhizostoma pulmo
Scyphozoa
Seawater
Urine
Vinegar
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:is a widely distributed scyphozoan in the Mediterranean Sea. Their stings result mainly in erythema, small vesicles, or/and pain, and cause a high number of bathers to seek assistance from first-aid services during the summer season. Despite the threat that jellyfish stings represent to public health, there is disagreement in the scientific community on first-aid protocols, with the dispute largely centered around the effectiveness of vinegar. In the present research, we investigated the effect of commonly used rinse solutions on nematocyst discharge in and the effect of vinegar on three more scyphozoans ( sp., sp., and ). Scented ammonia, vinegar, and acetic acid triggered nematocyst discharge in . Vinegar also caused nematocyst discharge in sp., sp., and . In contrast, seawater, baking soda, freshwater, urine, and hydrogen peroxide were considered neutral solutions that did not induce nematocyst discharge. These results indicate that the use of vinegar, acetic acid, or commercial products based on these compounds is counterproductive. Their use can worsen pain and discomfort caused not only by stings but also by those of any scyphozoan. The use of seawater is recommended for cleaning the sting site until an inhibitor solution that irreversibly prevents nematocyst discharge is discovered.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph20032344