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Treatment of a jellyfish sting does depend on the degree of severity. One home remedy that works is to pour vinegar over the affected area to stop the venom. You may have heard of some other home remedies that don’t work. Ammonia, rubbing alcohol, ice, meat tenderizer, and even urine. Don’t use these. They can make the reaction worse. If you don’t have vinegar, you should pick, but not scrape, the stingers out with fine tweezers. Pluck the visible tentacles with a tweezer and soak the affected area in hot, but not scalding water for 20 to 45 minutes. Pat dry the skin and apply hydrocortisone cream, lidocaine spray or calamine lotion if they’re available. More severe cases require a trip to the ER and treatment by a doctor. Treatment will also vary depending on the type of jellyfish the patient was stung by. You may be treated with oral pain medication, antihistamines, or steroids, depending on the symptoms you experience. Rarely, a jellyfish stain may cause an allergic reaction restricting the airways. This requires the immediate use of adrenaline injection or oral anti-histamines and you should seek immediate medical care.
