What Are the Symptoms and Signs of a Jellyfish Sting?
Jellyfish (Chrysaora) are free-swimming, non-aggressive, gelatinous marine animals surrounded by tentacles. These tentacles are covered with sacs (nematocysts or stinging cells) that are filled with poison (venom) that can cause a painful to sometimes life-threatening sting.
Jellyfish stings are generally accidental - from swimming or wading into a jellyfish or carelessly handling them.
Symptoms of a jellyfish sting include:
- An intense, stinging pain.
- Itching.
- Rash.
- Raised welts.
Stings from venomous types of jellyfish can cause death in minutes.