Summer and holidays are pleasant, but unforeseen events can happen. Among these are the jellyfish and Portuguese man-o'war bites, species that exist on our beaches. Know how to distinguish the jellyfish and the Portuguese man-o'war Jellyfish Jellyfish has a mushroom-like body, with a gelatinous appearance. The tentacles, long and thin, under the body, are covered with small poisonous bags. Jellyfish live in various parts of the world and can be found in waters of varying depth. Portuguese man-of-war The Portuguese man-o'war is often mistaken for a jellyfish that swims in the water. The Portuguese man-o'war floats in the water, it moves through the oceans pushed by the wind. Its resemblance to the caravels used by medieval Portuguese sailors, was the reason for its named. The Portuguese man-o'war has a bag full of bluish-purple gas and tentacles (which can reach 20 meters) that make its sting very painful and liable to cause severe burns. It tends to remain on the surface of the water in hours of less intense sun, so there is a greater risk of being found in the morning, late afternoon, and evening. What do you feel when you are bitten by a jellyfish or Portuguese man-o'war? For humans, the degree of toxicity of the venom of these species is variable. In species with longer tentacles, the first sensation is of rolling, followed by a burning sensation, which leaves flictus, that is, vesicles with liquid that characterize second-degree burns; In species that have short tentacles, the burning sensation appears immediately after contact, which leaves areas of the skin red, with increased local heat and extremely painful. People with increased sensitivity to the released toxin may experience allergic reactions, which can become severe and require observation in a hospital emergency. What to do after a bite? If during a sea bath you feel a sting of jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war, avoid panicking because of the risk of drowning. You must get out of the water quickly and immediately go to the lifeguard , who is prepared to help you. If you are on an unattended beach, and there is not a viable option, there are some steps you can take : Wash the affected area with sea water, carefully and without rubbing; Do not use fresh water, alcohol or ammonia in the affected area; To relieve pain, the most effective treatment is to remove fragments of tentacles that remain on the victim. To do this, use gloves, plastic tweezers, saline or seawater. Do not try to remove the fragments directly with your hands; Once the tentacles have been removed, apply hot bands or another heat source to the affected area for about 20 minutes to help relieve pain and inflammation; The use of vinegar can be considered, despite being controversial, to prevent the release of toxins. In no case should urine or alcohol be applied to the affected region; Apply a thin layer of ointment suitable for burns; If after these steps you do not feel pain relief, you should seek medical help in a hospital emergency. Even if you are not bitten, if you see a Portuguese man-of-war, after alerting people who are nearby, report it to the lifeguard, or in the case of an unsupervised beach, report it to the maritime authority. How does the pain evolve? Pain and discomfort usually improve after 20 minutes. However, it may take up to 24 hours for the pain to disappear completely . During this period, oral therapy for pain relief with analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, respectively, can be done. If the pain lasts more than 24 hours or if you have any of the following symptoms, you will need medical attention , so you should go to a hospital emergency room: Hypersensitivity to the poison, with exuberant swelling and pain; Intense and permanent pain, after washing the affected area and oral medication; Persistent fever after the first 24 hours; Nausea, vomiting, dizziness or headache; Hypersudoresis (excessive sweating); Inability to remove the tentacle; Contact with the face or genital area. ATTENTION : Emergency medical services should be activated immediately, through the telephone number 112, when someone who had contact with a jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war has signs of shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, convulsions, intense skin rash (red spots on the skin), lip edema (swelling), voice change or chest pain. How to avoid a jellyfish or man-o'war It is not easy to avoid a sting of jellyfish or Portuguese man-o'war as in most situations bathers are unaware of the existence of these species on the beaches. However, there are some strategies you can put in place that can help you avoid accidents : Always check if there are warning signs on the beach about the presence of dangerous species, for example jellyfish, Portuguese man-o'war; Do not touch marine animals that have a suspicious aspect, namely a gelatinous aspect, such as jellyfish and Portuguese man-o'wars. If you are accompanied by children, keep them under surveillance. Author : Liliana Beirão More information about Urgent Care at Hospital da Luz. Meet the General and Family Medicine team of Hospital da Luz network.. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
