Abstract
Jellyfish produce clinical diseases in humans. Death from venom toxicity is more common than anaphylaxis. The main venom actions are on the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems and these agents may induce systemic symptoms accompanying their cutaneous lesions. Keloids, fat atrophy, gangrene, contractions, arthralgias, neuritis, hyperpigmentation, corneal ulcerations, vasospasm and post-envenomation herpes simplex or granuloma annulare may appear. Recurrent eruptions, distant-site eruptions, persistent lesions or urticaria can occur. Anaphylaxis is managed as usual and verapamil can counteract the cardiotoxin. Systemic analgesics outperform topical agents against the immediate painful sting which results from immediate intradermal stimuli. Few measures preventing nematocyst rupture from adherent tentacles are significantly effective clinically so tentacle removal should be delayed until the patient is stable.
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Burnett, J.W. Clinical manifestations of jellyfish envenomation. Hydrobiologia 216, 629–635 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026523
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026523