Man-o-War sting remedy?

[DocVikingo]

Hi DavidPT40,

Anti-histamines should help with the itching.

Are you suggesting that another one be used?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Walter]

Another motive of my post was that I’ve known people to sometimes incorrectly identify other "jellies" as man-of-war.

One contributing factor is so many folks refer to them as "jellies." They are not. They are much more closely related to corals than to jellyfish. A jellyfish is a single animal. A Man 'o War is a colony of animals.

Different people have different levels of sensitivity to different stings. Bees hurt more than a Man 'o War and my reaction is much worse (although still minor) to a bee sting than to Man 'o War. A sting from a Bristle Worm doesn't hurt as bad as either, but my reaction (pain in the center of the chest, difficulty breathing) is much worse than to either.

 

[knotical]

One contributing factor is so many folks refer to them as "jellies."

Agreed. That's why I put it in quotes. I probably should have said "so-called jellies".

I wondered if my experience was unusual, or if there were more than one species, so I went googling. Apparently there is only one species. I did find another citation that matched my experience, though. National Geographic says "For humans, a man-of-war sting is excruciatingly painful, but rarely deadly." ( see: http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/portuguese-man-of-war.html ) I suspect that my experience is more the norm than Walter's or oleander's.

 

[Walter]

I wish "it was perhaps the most excruciating pain I ever felt." Unfortunately, lots of things have topped it.

 

[knotical]

You have my sympathy.

 

[TheRedDuke]

Hello. My MOW sting caused bad pain, nausea, loss of concentration, muscle weakness and cramping, and numbness in my right arm that lasted for a 2-3 hours. I was stung on my ass. I get stung by jellies all the time. It hurts, but whatever. This was a totally different experience. I would rather get stung by thirty bees. The welts lasted for two months. Luckily I didn't scar, which apparently can happen.
If it is a MOW that has stung you, not a reg. old jelly, do not use vinegar, do not use fresh water, do not rub (of course).
The stings can cause respiratory problems, and they have been know (very rarely) to be fatal, so keep an eye on it.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi TheRedDuke,

The thread to which you have just responded began and ended in early April of '07, well over a year ago. Moreover, the original poster, "Oleander," last logged onto the board on April 24, 2007.

A such, you may wish to either PM or email the parties whom you are addressing.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[TheRedDuke]

just wanted anyone who was looking for sting experience/info to find it. . .

 

[DocVikingo]

Cool.

Then this extensive Diving Medicine forum thread on the treatment of jellyfish envenomations from April of this year should be cited:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/di...vinegar-no-longer-included-my-dive-bag-2.html

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[DandyDon]

Cool.

Then this extensive Diving Medicine forum thread on the treatment of jellyfish envenomations from April of this year should be cited:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/di...vinegar-no-longer-included-my-dive-bag-2.html

Regards,

DocVikingo

Haha thanks. I put a small bottle of vinegar back in my bag for my current Mexico trip as there are indicated needs.