What to do if you're stung by a jellyfish
Revisado por el Dr. Colin Tidy, MRCGPÚltima actualización por Victoria RawÚltima actualización 17 Jul 2025
- DescargarDescargar
- Compartir
Around 150 million people are stung by jellyfish around the world each year. While some can be harmless, some may not be, so acting quickly is the key to treating a sting to prevent severe side effects or death. Find out here what to do and what not to do.
En este artículo:
Seguir leyendo
What does a jellyfish sting look like?
The symptoms of a jellyfish sting usually include an itchy, sometimes painful rash. If more severe this rash may blister, before filling with pus and rupturing.
The jellyfish might also leave a print of its tentacle, which usually shows in red, brown, or purple marks. The skin will feel very sensitive and sore.
What type of jellyfish sting is most dangerous?
Many types of jellyfish are harmless to humans, In the UK many jelly fish stings are more like getting stung by nettles and cause a similar tingly rash. The types of jelly fish in the UK waters which cause more intense stings are the lion's mane and the mauve stinger which can give electric shock like stings. Whilst still rare, the Portuguese man o'war is being found more frequently on the west coast of the UK.
Other types of jellyfish which can give a more severe sting include:
Box jellyfish - found in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Bluebottle jellyfish - found in warmer seas.
Sea nettle - found along the northeast coast of the United States.
Sea wasp - found around Australia and Southeast Asia.
Cómo tratar una picadura de medusa
How long you are exposed to the stingers also impacts the severity of a sting, as does how much of your skin that is affected. Children are most likely to have severe reactions, along with people who have other health conditions.
In rare cases some people who have been stung may have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and will require emergency care.
Los síntomas pueden incluir:
Shock.
Dolor intenso.
Swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth, throat, neck, ears, eyelids, palms, or soles of the feet.
Dificultad para respirar.
Seguir leyendo
How long does a jellyfish sting last?
Most people will feel an intense pain immediately after the sting - which usually lasts between 1-2 hours. The itchy sensation, on the other hand, can last up to a week, and several weeks in more severe cases.
Some jellyfish stings may cause a reaction across your entire body, including:
Debilidad.
Dolor de estómago.
Excessive sweating.
Jellyfish sting treatment
Top tips for treating a jellyfish sting:
Rinse the affected area with seawater as soon as possible.
Use tweezers to remove any visible jellyfish tentacles which may be trapped on your skin - or scrape off with a credit card. Never use your bare hands to remove the stings.
Use warm water to soak your skin, either by immersing your skin into a bowl or using a washcloth, making sure it's as hot as you can tolerate without burning your skin.
Keep your skin soaked in water to wash away the burning, keeping a stream of hot water on your skin for at least 20 minutes.
Take some immediate pain relief if necessary - such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream if needed.
Do not cover the wound.
Seguir leyendo
When to see a doctor about a jellyfish sting
If you are holidaying in a foreign country, after following the above steps, you should seek medical treatment, since you’re likely to be less informed on what has stung you - it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If your tetanus vaccination is not up to date, you will need to see a doctor to get a booster shot.
In rare cases, jellyfish stings can be life-threatening. As the sting develops, there’s a chance you might need urgent medical attention.
You should seek emergency health care straight away.
Call for an emergency ambulance (999 in the UK) - if the person stung:
Has signs of an anaphylactic reaction.
Experiences difficulty breathing.
Develops chest pains.
Starts having a seizure.
Vomits.
Bleeds continuously.
Develops severe swelling around the sting.
Loses consciousness.
Sometimes jellyfish stings can become infected. Please see a doctor immediately if you have any of the signs of an infection, such as the wound becoming more painful, more redness, or you develop a fever.
Does pee help a jellyfish sting?
You should not pee on a jellyfish sting. This is just a myth and there is no evidence that pee has any benefit.
In fact, studies have shown the opposite. Your pee contains compounds such as ammonia and urea, which could be helpful on their own if you’ve been stung. However, since pee contains a lot of water, rinsing your sting with it means the ammonia and urea will be too diluted to be of any use.
First aid treatment is the primary concern when dealing with jellyfish stings. You should focus on removing the tentacles from your skin and treating the contacted area to avoid the further release of nematocysts - the thousands of tiny cells on their tentacles.
Responding quickly after a sting can avoid an increase in venom load and potentially save a life.
How to avoid being stung by a jellyfish
To reduce your chances of being stung by a jellyfish, you can avoid water during jellyfish season from mid-spring through to late summer and early autumn. However, this isn't always possible, especially as summer time is holiday season.
So, here are some protective measures you can take when swimming in water where there might be jellyfish:
Keep an eye out for warning signs on beaches, alerting you to jellyfish or other sea creatures.
Talk to lifeguards or officials before swimming in open water to make yourself aware of the hazards.
Don’t ever touch a jellyfish - even if you think it is dead.
Wear a protective wetsuit and something on your feet when swimming in open water.
Wear sandals when walking in rocky or shallow water.
Get clued up on how jellyfish move - as they tend to go along with ocean currents.
Make sure you know what to do if you or someone else is stung.
Selecciones de pacientes para Picaduras y mordeduras
Salud de la piel, las uñas y el cabello
Qué hacer si le pica un erizo de mar
Aunque muchas picaduras de erizo de mar pueden ser leves y sus síntomas desaparecen en pocos días, existe la posibilidad de infectarse gravemente. Por eso, es importante saber cómo actuar en estas situaciones y cuándo buscar ayuda profesional.
por Emily Jane Bashforth
Salud de la piel, las uñas y el cabello
Mordeduras y picaduras de insectos
La mayoría de las picaduras de abejas, avispas y avispones provocan dolor y una ligera hinchazón, pero apenas tienen otros efectos. Sin embargo, algunas personas son alérgicas a las picaduras y pueden desarrollar reacciones que pueden poner en peligro su vida. Llame inmediatamente a una ambulancia si sospecha una reacción alérgica poco después de haber sufrido una picadura. Si le pica una abeja y el aguijón permanece en la piel, ráspelo lo antes posible. No lo arranque, ya que podría introducir más veneno en la piel. Las mordeduras de insectos (no las picaduras) rara vez provocan reacciones alérgicas graves, pero pueden causar la aparición de pequeños bultos que pican en la piel. El picor puede aliviarse con una pomada calmante, comprimidos antihistamínicos o crema con esteroides. Algunos insectos infestan animales domésticos, muebles, etc., y pueden causar picaduras repetidas.
por la Dra. Rosalyn Adleman, MRCGP
Historia del artículo
La información de esta página ha sido revisada por médicos cualificados.
Next review due: 18 Jul 2027
17 Jul 2025 | Última versión
19 ago 2022 | Publicado originalmente
Autores:
Emily Jane Bashforth
Pregunte, comparta, conecte.
Explore debates, formule preguntas y comparta experiencias sobre cientos de temas de salud.
¿Se encuentra mal?
Evalúe sus síntomas en línea de forma gratuita